DefinePK

Abstract

The ground-breaking gene silencing technology was a serendipitous breakthrough in biology, which revealed the existence of a charismatic evolutionary conserved pathway, now known as RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi is a post-transcriptional method of gene silencing in which destruction of mRNAs in a sequence-specific fashion is mediated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). RNAi because of its specificity, efficiency and potency have become an attractive tool in the arsenal of the cellular biologist. Hence, RNA interference is the newest kid on the genetic block, allows the scientists to selectively turn off genes and also offering a quick and easy way to determine the function of a gene both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally it promises to set the scientific world alight with its therapeutic potential and wide-ranging applications including onions that can’t make you cry new treatments for degenerative diseases and in field of transgenic technology etc. Due of its exquisite specificity and efficiency, RNAi was voted and justified the “top scientific breakthrough of 2002” by Science Magazine. The present review focuses on the landmarks in RNAi (RNA-interference) discovery, its mechanism of action and the promises and pitfalls it offers in treatment and research