title: Overview of RNA interference and related processes.
abstract: The history of RNA interference (RNAi) has unfolded rapidly since 1997 with a series of discoveries from plants, fungi, and animals. Initially, the interest was directed towards development of gene silencing technology that could be applied in research, medical therapy, and crop improvement. However, as the underlying mechanism was revealed, it became apparent that RNAi manifests a novel system of genetic regulation that was only hinted at by previous data. This overview unit gives a brief history of the field, describes the natural role of RNAi and related processes, identifies strategies for RNAi and cosuppression in plants and animals, and describes methods for detection and characterization of siRNA and miRNA.
authors.affiliation: The Sainsbury Laboratory John Innes Center, Norwich, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baulcombe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000502:physiology; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D018510:RNA, Helminth; D018749:RNA, Plant; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D043244:Ribonuclease III