RNA splicing: rearrangement of RNA sequences in the expression of split genes

In January of 1976, the first issue of TIBS appeared carrying an article on chromatin structure by E. M. Bradbury. In this article, Bradbury reiterated a question which had been put forth during the previous decade by Britten and Davidson. In particular, the highly variable and apparently excessive DNA content of eukaryotic cells led Bradbury and his predecessors to wonder what the nature and function of this ‘extra’ DNA might be. While the question of function remains largely unanswered, studies of the nature of these extra sequences have altered many of the concepts previously considered universal. Perhaps one of the most startling revelations was that a colinear relationship between eukaryotic genes and their products may be the exception rather than the rule. It was this revelation which gave rise to the study of RNA splicing.