Alternative splicing

Alternative splicing is a process that happens in our cells when making proteins. The process starts with a gene, which contains instructions for making different proteins. The gene is copied into code, which is used to make a long string of kinks, called an mRNA. The mRNA travels out of the gene and is used to make the protein. However, with alternative splicing, instead of just making one type of protein from a gene, our cells can make many different types of proteins from the same gene. This happens when the mRNA is cut up into pieces and then rejoined in different combinations. This allows the same gene to make different proteins, depending on which pieces are used.