title: The functions of animal microRNAs.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that regulate the expression of complementary messenger RNAs. Hundreds of miRNA genes have been found in diverse animals, and many of these are phylogenetically conserved. With miRNA roles identified in developmental timing, cell death, cell proliferation, haematopoiesis and patterning of the nervous system, evidence is mounting that animal miRNAs are more numerous, and their regulatory impact more pervasive, than was previously suspected.
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth Medical School, Department of Genetics, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA (e-mail: vra@dartmouth.edu)
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ambros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D023281:Genomics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs