Post-transcriptional regulation refers to the processes that control gene expression after the transcription of DNA into messenger RNA (mRNA). This regulation can involve various mechanisms, such as alternative splicing, where different combinations of exons are joined together, leading to the production of multiple protein variants from a single gene. Additionally, post-transcriptional regulation includes the stability and degradation of mRNA, which affects how long the mRNA remains available for translation into proteins. Other factors, such as microRNAs and RNA-binding proteins, also play crucial roles in determining the fate of mRNA and ultimately influence protein synthesis.