The cancer gene ras produces mRNA containing an extra exon that includes a number of UAA codons.Cancer cells produce ras mRNA missing this exon.This mistake most likely is due to a mistake by

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The presence of UAA codons suggests a premature stop codon, implying that the exon containing these codons is non-functional. This is a classic example of alternative splicing, a process that is facilitated by small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). The snRNPs are essential components of the spliceosome, the molecular machine responsible for removing introns from pre-mRNA and joining exons together to form mature mRNA. Cancer cells may contain mutations in genes encoding snRNPs or other spliceosome components, resulting in abnormal splicing patterns and the production of abnormal mRNA transcripts.

The Cancer Gene Ras Produces MRNA Containing an Extra Exon