RNA interference is a type of genetic silencing. It enables to verify the function of a gene.
The injection of an RNA interference (double-stranded RNA) which is constituted of approximately 21 nucleotides will interfere with the production of a physiological RNA (normally produced by the host cell).
In fact, as the injected RNA sequence and the physiological one have approximately the same sequence, they will both interact with the same gene(s). If a lot of RNA interference is injected, the corresponding gene(s) will no longer be expressed.
By seeing which function is extinct, the scientist will be able to see what the function of the gene which isn’t expressed anymore was.
Read more: http://www.ambion.com/techlib/append/RNAi_mechanism.html
See RNA interference animation at: http://www.nature.com/focus/rnai/animations/animation:animation.htm
Contributed by Stephanie Ries
