Director of The Science Advisory Board to Present RNA Interference Technology Research Insights

(I-Newswire) April 6, 2005 - The phenomenon of RNA interference (RNAi) has rapidly evolved into a powerful technique to silence gene expression in eukaryotic cells. From an evolutionary perspective, RNAi helps protect cells from viruses and transposable genetic elements in addition to carrying out more routine cellular tasks essential to development and growth. As documented in the report, many researchers are now using RNAi as a means to study the various aspects of gene regulation in a multitude of biological systems.

"The fundamental attraction of RNAi technology is that it permits scientists to observe the metabolic, physiologic and phenotypic changes that occur in a cell during real time due to a specific gene under specific conditions," observed Zemlo. Following in the footsteps of cloning in the 1980s and PCR in the 1990s, RNAi has the potential to increase the number of scientific questions that can be answered. According to the survey, the top primary research objective of scientists utilizing RNAi technology is assigning gene function.

Much of the technique's popularity is because it allows researchers to study the molecular effects of modulating expression at the level of individual genes. Functionally, this gene silencing occurs through the introduction of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that are complementary to the target mRNA into cultured cells, tissues, organs, or even whole organisms. This amazing degree of precision can now be accomplished without the tedious and time-consuming efforts previously dedicated to the construction of single gene knock-outs or dominant negative expressing cell lines.

Zemlo's presentation also included an in-depth look at RNAi experimental design, including model systems, siRNA duplex design, transfection techniques as well as current and future levels of throughput. In addition, the preferences, needs and expectations of researchers in regards to the refinements needed to existing tools as well as new tools needed to further advance this technology were outlined.


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BioInformatics, LLC (http://www.gene2drug.com) is a market research firm that supports marketing, sales and R&D executives in the life science, medical device and pharmaceutical industries through published reports, custom research and consulting. BioInformatics sponsors the world's largest market research panel of scientific customers-The Science Advisory Board (http://www.scienceboard.net)-which consists of nearly 25,000 life science and medical professionals from 62 countries who participate in surveys that address emerging technologies, test customer reactions to new product concepts, measure brand awareness and assess advertising effectiveness.


For more information, please contact:

Alyssa Martin
BioInformatics, LLC
2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 250
Arlington, VA 22201
703.778.3080 x12 (phone)
703.778.3081 (fax)
a.martin@gene2drug.com
http://www.gene2drug.com

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For more information, please contact:
Alyssa Martin
BioInformatics, LLC
2111 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 250
Arlington
VA
22201
USA

Telephone: 703.778.3080 x12
Fax: 703.778.3081
Web: www.gene2drug.com

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