RNA interference

A technique of RNA interference is used to inhibit the expression of targeted genes. The technique consists in injecting into a cell RNA codons that make either “sense” or “nonsense”, depending on the gene that scientists want to “knockout” or “knock down”. Following the injection of this exogenous genetic material the cell will destroy it and the corresponding mRNA fragment that had been produced by transcription of its own genetic makeup, thus inhibiting the expression of a targeted gene.