1. THE NEW CODE OF LIFE.
- Author
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BALL, PHILIP
- Subjects
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DOUBLE helix structure , *GENETIC translation , *BIOTIC communities , *LINCRNA , *SMALL interfering RNA , *HUMAN biology , *MESSENGER RNA , *TRANSFER RNA - Abstract
Scientists have made the discovery that a significant portion of the human genome is transcribed into RNA molecules that do not code for proteins, known as noncoding RNA (ncRNA). This challenges the previous belief that most of the genome was "junk DNA" with no biological function. These ncRNA molecules have been found to play a role in gene regulation and may be involved in diseases like cancer. Researchers are now investigating the possibility of targeting ncRNAs with drugs or using them as drugs themselves. There are different types of ncRNAs, including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), each with their own functions and mechanisms of action. The role and significance of ncRNA in human biology is still being debated, but it holds potential for future medical applications. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024
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