Small interfering RNAs guide the RISC complex to degrade matching mRNA and silence genes.
Long double-stranded RNA is cut by Dicer into 21 to 23 nt siRNAs that load into RISC; the guide strand pairs with target mRNA and Argonaute cleaves it. Fire and Mello showed it in C. elegans (Nobel 2006).
It protects against viruses and transposons, and is used experimentally to knock down genes.
Small interfering RNAs guide the RISC complex to degrade matching mRNA and silence genes.
RNA Interference is one of the 52 topics in Molecular Biology. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism, Homologous Recombination, microRNA.
The drug patisiran is an siRNA treating hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis.
Work through the Beginner topics in Molecular Biology first, such as Central Dogma, DNA Replication, Base Pairing, then return to RNA Interference. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
The closest topics to RNA Interference are CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism, Homologous Recombination, microRNA, Enhancers and Silencers. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for RNA Interference. To practise the whole of Molecular Biology, use the Molecular Biology quiz.
RNA Interference: Small interfering RNAs guide the RISC complex to degrade matching mRNA and silence genes. CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism: A guide RNA directs the Cas9 nuclease to a matching DNA site to cut it, enabling precise editing. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Molecular Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
A guide RNA directs the Cas9 nuclease to a matching DNA site to cut it, enabling precise editing.
🧫 Molecular BiologyAn accurate repair pathway and meiotic mechanism exchanging DNA between similar sequences using RAD51.
🧫 Molecular BiologyAbout 22-nucleotide RNAs that fine-tune gene expression by blocking translation or promoting mRNA decay.
🧫 Molecular BiologyDistant regulatory DNA elements that increase or decrease transcription via looping to the promoter.
🧫 Molecular Biology