RNA interference operates by which mechanism?

RNA interference operates by which mechanism?

• A. It degrades DNA at the target locus.
• B. It silences gene expression by degrading mRNA or blocking translation using small interfering RNAs or microRNAs.
• C. It promotes chromosomal translocations.
• D. It integrates viral DNA into the genome.

Answer: (B)

RNA interference uses small RNA guides to silence gene expression at the mRNA level. Dicer processes double-stranded RNA or hairpin precursors into siRNAs or miRNAs, which are loaded into the RNA-induced silencing complex. The guide strand directs the complex to a complementary mRNA, and the Argonaute component either cleaves the mRNA or blocks its translation, reducing the amount of protein produced. This is a post-transcriptional mechanism that changes gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. It doesn’t degrade DNA at the target locus, promote chromosomal translocations, or integrate viral DNA.

RNA interference uses small RNA guides to silence gene expression at the mRNA level. Dicer processes double-stranded RNA or hairpin precursors into siRNAs or miRNAs, which are loaded into the RNA-induced silencing complex. The guide strand directs the complex to a complementary mRNA, and the Argonaute component either cleaves the mRNA or blocks its translation, reducing the amount of protein produced. This is a post-transcriptional mechanism that changes gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. It doesn’t degrade DNA at the target locus, promote chromosomal translocations, or integrate viral DNA.