Why do we have so many different transcripts?

Laurence D. Hurst

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3003686

Why do we have so many different transcripts?

Laurence D. Hurst

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Abstract

While it is tempting to suppose that everything that happens inside our cells has a function, a recent study in PLOS Biology adds to the growing consensus that, for large-bodied species, the high diversity of transcripts is down to the fact that accidents happen.

Original language	English
Article number	e3003686
Journal	PLoS Biology
Volume	24
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003686
Publication status	Published - 20 Mar 2026

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience
General Immunology and Microbiology
General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Access to Document

10.1371/journal.pbio.3003686Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{0c2d6368be394012b169ce0a75aff001,

title = "Why do we have so many different transcripts?",

abstract = "While it is tempting to suppose that everything that happens inside our cells has a function, a recent study in PLOS Biology adds to the growing consensus that, for large-bodied species, the high diversity of transcripts is down to the fact that accidents happen.",

author = "Hurst, \{Laurence D.\}",

year = "2026",

month = mar,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1371/journal.pbio.3003686",

language = "English",

volume = "24",

journal = "PLoS Biology",

issn = "1545-7885",