RNA inactivation

RNA inactivation: A technique for inactivating genes in a cell through the introduction of double-stranded RNA into the cell. RNA inactivation is based on the phenomenon that animal cells destroy RNA when they meet it in the form of a double strand. If a segment of double-stranded RNA has the same sequence as part of a gene, it triggers the destruction of the messenger RNA (mRNA) produced by that gene, effectively silencing it. Double-strand RNA can directly suppress and silence a target gene. This phenomenon may have evolved as a defense against retroviruses, viruses such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), that store their genetic information in double-stranded RNA.

Also known as RNA interference (RNAi), RNA silencing, and inhibitory RNA. See also: RNA interference.