Biology Question on Gene silencing and editing

Question

Silencing of specific mRNA in RNAi is by

Answer 1

Solution

RNA interference is a mechanism that regulates gene expression by specifically targeting and degrading mRNA molecules. It is mediated by small RNA molecules, particularly small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), which are derived from longer dsRNA molecules.

In the RNAi process, the dsRNA molecule is introduced into the cell, which is then processed by an enzyme called Dicer into siRNAs or shRNAs. These small RNA molecules bind to the target mRNA sequence, typically through complementary base pairing, forming a RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC).

The RISC complex guides the degradation or inhibition of the target mRNA, preventing its translation into protein.
The silencing of specific mRNA through RNAi is a powerful tool in molecular biology research for studying gene function and has potential applications in therapeutics.