Analysis: mRNA Splicing & Childhood Development This analysis evaluates the role of mRNA splicing in human childhood development, distinguishing between splicing as a primary driver of developmental milestones versus a secondary consequence or fine-tuning mechanism. Executive Summary The evidence indicates that mRNA splicing is a critical functional driver of specific developmental phases in childhood, particularly in brain maturation (synaptic plasticity) and musculoskeletal adaptation . While transcriptional changes (turning genes on/off) generally drive early fetal cell fate , alternative splicing takes over in the postnatal/childhood period to drive cellular maturation . Therefore, splicing is likely a primary driver of functional specialization . 1. The Case for Splicing as a Driver of Childhood Development In this context, "driving" means that the developmental change would not occur—or would occ...
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