Try adjusting your type
14th October, 2009
European Survey on Standards of Care in paediatric oncology centres. J. R. Kowalczyk, M. Samardakiewicz, K. Pritchard-Jones, R. Ladenstein, S. Essiaf, E. Fitzgerald, G. Petrarulo, G. Vassal - EJC , Volume 61, pp 11-19
8th December, 2014
The purpose of this website is to provide good and clear information about the long-term effects of childhood cancer and to refer to the various late-effects outpatient clinics (LATER outpatient clinics) that exist in the Netherlands.
8th September, 2015
Cancer in young people is rare, but it is still a major health issue in Europe. Each year, more than 6,000 young people in Europe die of cancer. There are more than 300,000 European childhood cancer survivors (in 2020, they will be nearly half a million): two-thirds of them have some late side effects of treatment, that are severe and impact on the daily life of half of those affected.
Exon is a segment of a DNA or RNA molecule containing information coding for a protein or peptide sequence. It is essential for genetic expression, in which these coded sequences are translated to enable protein synthesis. Exons can also be referred to as “coding sequences” as they are transcribed into mRNA.
When you delve into the world of genetics, you are inevitably confronted by a plethora of complex genetic terms. Unraveling these terminologies can sometimes seem like cracking a hard nut, but understanding what terms like exons actually mean can take us a long way in comprehending the intricate world of genetics. In this contextual framework, exon stands out as a crucial component. Here is a discourse about the prevalence and importance of exons in genetic research.
Recent years have seen a phenomenal interest in the study of exons, considering their profound influence on our health and well-being. With advancements in genetic research, it’s becoming increasingly clear that understanding exons isn’t just essential for scientists and researchers; it’s equally relevant to everyone, given how pivotal they are to human health.
In scientific parlance, an exon is a sequence of DNA or RNA that codes information for protein synthesis. In other words, it’s a segment of a DNA or RNA molecule containing information coding for a protein or peptide sequence.
To understand it in simpler terms, imagine a two-kilometer-long beaded necklace, where each bead represents a specific trait like eye color, hair type, height, etc. In this scenario, the exon can be compared to the bead that holds the specific coded information needed to express that trait. Exons hold the recipe, the blueprint if you will, needed to assemble the tiny protein machines that power our bodies.
Exons are crucial to genetic research as they contribute significantly to the diversity of proteins despite the limited number of genes. Disruptions or errors in exon sequences can lead to genetic disorders, highlighting their importance in understanding disease pathogenesis and developing therapeutic targets.
The discovery of exons marks a significant milestone in the field of genetics. The existence of these gene sections was first proposed in the 1970s in studies carried out by American molecular biologists Richard J. Roberts and Phillip A. Sharp. Their research led to a better understanding of gene structure, highlighting that genes were not continuous but split into sections.
Richard J. Roberts and Phillip A. Sharp, disregarding the initially accepted continuous gene hypothesis, theorized that genes consisted of two distinct segments: exons and introns. Their seminal work, which ultimately earned them the Nobel Prize in 1993, revolutionized the understanding of gene structure and paved the way for exponential advancements in genomics and genetic engineering.
Exons play a pivotal role in the functionality of genes. They provide the blueprint for the machines inside our cells.Known as proteins, these molecular machinery are synthesized following the sequence instructions in the exons.
The DNA molecule contains all the biological instructions needed by organisms for growth, development, functioning, and reproduction. The exons in DNA molecules are the regions that are transcribed into RNA and then translated into the protein. In eukaryotic cells, messenger RNA (mRNA) is created from the pre-mRNA intron-removed transcripts in a process called RNA splicing. This allows a single gene to code for multiple proteins, adding to biological diversity.
Exons drive protein synthesis through their encoded genetic information. The mRNA carries these exon-encoded instructions to the ribosomes where it is translated into a chain of amino acids – this sequence of amino acids forms a specific protein. The protein thus formed decides the characteristics or traits of an individual.The process underscores how modifications in exon can result in the production of multiple variations of proteins, thereby contributing to genetic diversity.
While exons carry the coding sequence for proteins, introns are non-coding sequences found within genes. They separate the coding sequences, and although they do not provide instructions for proteins, they play a critical role in gene expression control, regulating how the gene functions. Similar to exons, these introns are also transcribed into RNA, but they do not remain in the mRNA molecule and are cut out or ‘spliced’ during RNA processing.
Exons and introns collectively contribute to gene expression, with exons providing the actual coding sequence and introns helping regulate gene activity. The alternation of exon and intron sequences in a gene is central to the process of alternative splicing, which allows a single gene to code for multiple proteins. This splicing results in an incremental number of diverse proteins synthesized from the same gene, contributing to the complex network of proteins functioning within our bodies.
Exon mapping has now become a mainstay of genome sequencing and has helped make significant strides in the field of genomics. Through exon mapping, scientists can identify the position and structure of exons in genes. This data is vital to understand the nature of genetic diseases and formulate potential treatments.
The role of exons extends beyond genetic diseases into the broader field of genetic engineering. By manipulating the exon sequences in DNA, scientists can facilitate or bar the production of specific proteins. Such genetic modifications can help enhance desirable traits or eliminate detrimental ones in organisms, contributing immensely to food production, agriculture, and medicine.
Exons, being key players in gene expression, genetic research, and genetic engineering, offer a vast scope for future research. With the understanding of exons, we can comprehend the genetic basis of life better and pair this understanding with technological advancements to revolutionize the field of genetics.
The detailed mapping of exons and enhancement of exon manipulation techniques can provide us with better control over biological processes and the treatment of genetic disorders. Hence, the future direction of exon research holds promising prospects with potential global benefits.
An exon is a sequence of DNA that codes information for protein synthesis, essentially forming the blueprint needed to assemble the proteins that power our bodies.
Exons are crucial in genetics and genome research because they contain the coding sequences for proteins. Disruptions or alterations in exon sequences can lead to genetic disorders, emphasizing their importance in devising therapeutic targets.
Exons contain coding sequences for proteins, while introns are non-coding sequences within genes. Introns, though not having coding sequences, play a critical role in controlling gene expression.
Exons provide the genetic instructions for protein synthesis. The sequence in the mRNA molecule, coded by the exons, is translated into a chain of amino acids that forms a specific protein.
Exon mapping contributes significantly to genome sequencing, allowing scientists to understand the position and structure of exons within genes. In genetic engineering, manipulating exon sequences in DNA can regulate the production of specific proteins, thus allowing the enhancement of beneficial traits or elimination of harmful ones in organisms.
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