Which of the following statements correctly describes alternative RNA splicing?

• A. Alternative RNA splicing is a process that occurs in the cytoplasm.
• B. Alternative RNA splicing allows a single gene to produce multiple protein variants.
• C. Alternative RNA splicing occurs only in prokaryotic cells.
• D. Alternative RNA splicing removes exons from the RNA transcript.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of RNA splicing: RNA splicing is a process that occurs in eukaryotic cells where introns are removed from the pre-mRNA transcript, and exons are joined together to form the mature mRNA.
2. Learn about alternative RNA splicing: Alternative RNA splicing is a mechanism that allows a single gene to produce multiple protein variants by including or excluding certain exons during the splicing process.
3. Identify the location of RNA splicing: RNA splicing, including alternative splicing, occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, not in the cytoplasm.
4. Distinguish between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells: Alternative RNA splicing is a feature of eukaryotic cells, as prokaryotic cells do not have introns and do not perform splicing.
5. Clarify the role of exons in alternative splicing: Alternative RNA splicing does not remove exons; instead, it selectively includes or excludes certain exons to generate different mRNA variants.