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RNA interference
noun
: a posttranscriptional genetic mechanism of eukaryotes that suppresses gene expression and in which double-stranded RNA cleaved into small fragments initiates the degradation of a complementary messenger RNA sequence
also
: a technique (such as the introduction of double-stranded RNA into an organism) that artificially induces RNA interference and is used for studying or regulating gene expression
Examples of RNA interference in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While small molecules are currently at the forefront of efforts to modulate the activity of lncRNAs, in the future, other tools such as CRISPR and RNA interference have also been described as potential therapeutic strategies.
—Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
And competing strands of RNA can tangle up mRNA instructions in a process called RNA interference that prevents the production of new proteins.
—Annie Melchor, WIRED, 13 Oct. 2024
Based on a mechanism called RNA interference (RNAi), the spray targets a vital gene in the Colorado potato beetle.
—Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 27 June 2024
The process ends with the mRNA being snipped in half, a process called RNA interference.
—Philip Ball, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
This investigational RNA interference therapeutic agent inhibits the production of the protein that causes hypertension, or high blood pressure.
—Rachel Murphy, Verywell Health, 8 Aug. 2023
Like five other medicines developed by Alnylam and approved by the Food and Drug Administration since 2018, its hypertension drug relies on RNA interference, or RNAi, to fight disease.
—Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 24 July 2023
Since 2018, Alnylam has persuaded the Food and Drug Administration to approve five drugs that rely on RNA interference, a Nobel Prize-winning approach to mute disease-causing genes.
—Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Apr. 2023
Dicerna was developing medicines that rely on RNA interference, a Nobel Prize-winning technology that turns off disease-causing genes.
—Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'RNA interference.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1998, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near RNA interference
Cite this Entry
“RNA interference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/RNA%20interference. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
RNA interference
noun
: a posttranscriptional genetic mechanism of various eukaryotes (as plants, fungi, nematodes, and mammals) which suppresses gene expression and in which double-stranded RNA cleaved into small fragments initiates the degradation of a complementary messenger RNA sequence
also
: a technique (as the introduction of double-stranded RNA into an organism) that artificially induces RNA interference and is used for studying or regulating gene expression
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