Much of what we know about gene interactions in development has been learned using nematodes, yeast, flies, and bacteria. This is due, in part, to the relative ease of genetic manipulation of these well-characterized genomes. However, of great interest are gene interactions involving complex diseases in humans. Wang and White [(2011). Nature Methods 8(4):341–346] describe work using RNAi to examine the interactive proteome in mammalian cells. They mention that knockdown inefficiencies and off-target effects of introduced RNAi species are areas that need particular improvement if the methodology is to be fruitful.

Comment on how 'knockdown inefficiencies' and 'off-target effects' would influence the interpretation of results.

Question

Accepted Answer

Hello everyone and welcome to today's video. So which of the following is not a function of RNA interference or which of the following is an incorrect description of what RNA interference is going to be doing. Or remember that RNA interference is going to use molecules in order to degrade M RNA transcripts by doing so, they're going to stop translation from happening. So it is a very effective technique for gene silencing knowing these. Let's go over each of our answer choices so that we may solve the problem. First of all, we have eight, it is used to investigating function in cell culture and model organisms. Well, this is true. If we affect the expression of certain genes, we can use this to investigate the function of these genes as to what they do in the cell. There is a correct statement. So we're going to cancel it out. Then we have it is used to try to get specific cancer causing gene sequences. This is true as well because if we're able to degrade the MRNA transcript created by this cancer causing gene sequences were going to be able to target them and break them down just stop them for being expressed this correct as well. So we're going to cancel, it is used to inhibit the replication of certain viruses. Well, remember that certain viruses are going to depend on the cell machinery in order to replicate if we are affecting the M R N A that these viruses are producing, in order to be used by the cell, we're going to be also be inhibiting their replication. This is correct. So we're going to cancel this out. Then we have it is used to genetically engineer certain proteins. Remember that to create proteins, we need M RNA. We know that RNA interference is going to destroy or degrade M R N A. Because of this, we cannot use RNA interference to genetically engineer proteins. We're not going to be able to create proteins because we're degrading the M R N A. This is an incorrect statement. So we're going to highlight it as a final answer to our question. I really hope this video helped you and I hope to see you on the next one.

Verified Solution

Key Concepts

Knockdown Inefficiencies

Off-Target Effects

Interactive Proteome