Molecular Genetics & The RNA World: topic
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In the world of DNA, the RNA is King!
Adam Hall
Monday, 04 February 2008 20:59 UTC
The importance of RNA molecules in modulating gene expression is becoming ever more evident. The diverse number of RNA families and their important roles are having a profound effect on our understanding of genetics and how the genome is regulated. mRNAs, tRNAs, rRNAs, piRNAs and miRNAs – to name a few, are incredible molecules which are complex in shape and function. Since the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953, research interests are increasingly focusing on small non-coding RNAs. RNA molecules hold the key to many exciting possibilities, both in scientific research, but also in future medical treatments.
RNA may have been the first molecule to have evolved out of the primordial soup, and may be central to our understanding of the origin of life – hence the ‘RNA world hypothesis’. Are RNA molecules the real conductors of the genomic symphony?
References:
Grobhans, H. &Filipowicz, W. The expanding world of small RNAs. Nature 451: 414-416.
Gilbert, W. (1986). The RNA World. Nature 319: 618
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Replies
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There is undoubtedly a huge repertoire of RNA functions that are yet to be discovered. It is indeed fascinating as to how RNAs have multiple effects in ss,ds forms, in activating and silencing genes, in monoallelic expression, and many more regulatory processes. It wouldnt be very suprising, if there was a yet-to-be discovered global and common regulatory RNA function. It might just transform gene expression studies.
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