RNA Interference Mechanism — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2024Several nematodes parasitise a wide variety of plants and animals including human beings. A nematode Meloidegyne incognita infects the roots of tobacco plants and causes a great reduction in yield. A novel strategy was adopted to prevent this infestation which was based on the process of RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi takes place in all eukaryotic organisms as a method of cellular defense. This method involves silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary dsRNA molecule that binds to and prevents translation of the mRNA (silencing). The source of this complementary RNA could be from an infection by viruses having RNA genomes or mobile genetic elements (transposons) that replicate via an RNA intermediate.
RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular defense mechanism where complementary dsRNA molecules bind to specific mRNAs and silence them by preventing translation. Students often confuse this with transcriptional gene silencing or think the dsRNA degrades mRNA directly—but the key is that dsRNA binds to mRNA to block its translation into protein. The dsRNA can originate from viral RNA genomes or transposons replicating via RNA intermediates. To get NEET questions right, remember: RNAi specifically targets translation (not transcription), requires complementary dsRNA-mRNA binding, and functions as a eukaryotic defense strategy against genetic threats.
This paragraph was tested 2 times in NEET.
Given below are two statements: (NEET 2024) Statement I: RNA interference takes place in all eukaryotic organisms as a method of cellular defense. Statement II: RNAi involves the silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary single-stranded RNA molecule that binds and prevents translation of mRNA.
Which part of the tobacco plant is infected by Meloidogyne incognita? (NEET 2016 Phase 1)
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