Alternative splicing, the gene concept, and evolution.

Hist Philos Life Sci

Department of Philosophy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.

Published: May 2005

AI Article Synopsis

  • Alternative splicing enables the generation of various proteins from a single gene, highlighting the complexity of the human genome compared to other organisms.
  • The text explores different hypotheses about the significance of alternative splicing and its implications for our understanding of genes.
  • It emphasizes the need for integrating developmental and evolutionary perspectives in studying alternative splicing mechanisms in higher organisms.

Article Abstract

Alternative splicing allows for the production of many gene products from a single coding sequence. I introduce the concept of alternative splicing via some examples. I then discuss some current hypotheses about the explanatory role of alternative splicing, including the claim that splicing is a significant contributor to the difference in complexity between the human genome and proteosome. Hypotheses such as these bring into question our working concepts of the gene. I examine several gene concepts introduced to cope with processes such as alternative splicing. Next I introduce some hypotheses about the evolution of mechanisms alternative splicing in higher organisms. I conclude that attention to alternative splicing reveals that we adopt an attitude that developmental theorizing must inform evolutionary theorizing and vice versa.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03919710412331341661DOI Listing

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