The human genome, whose sequencing was completed in the early 2000s, contains a surprisingly small number of genes (20-25,000). What best explains the variation in the number of B and T cell receptors (more than a million combinations) found in white blood cells within an individual?

A) Frequent transposable element transfer

B) High rates of crossover during prophase I

C) High levels of mutations within the genome

D) Differential intron removal and rejoining exons

Question

Delaney Lucero

Biology

20 March, 16:19

The human genome, whose sequencing was completed in the early 2000s, contains a surprisingly small number of genes (20-25,000). What best explains the variation in the number of B and T cell receptors (more than a million combinations) found in white blood cells within an individual?

A) Frequent transposable element transfer

B) High rates of crossover during prophase I

C) High levels of mutations within the genome

D) Differential intron removal and rejoining exons

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Sariah Hammond · Answer 1

D) Differential intron removal and rejoining exons

Explanation:

The human genome has only 20000-25000 genes which code for millions of proteins. Being eukaryotic organisms, human genes have introns, that is, the non-coding intervening sequences present between exons. Introns are removed by post-transcriptional splicing of RNA. Alternate splicing of introns and rejoining of exons give rise to different protein products from the same mRNA. This is how, a small number of human genes code for millions of protein products.