( omosomal regions.She explained that th...)Delaware scientists make significant advance in study of small RNAs

omosomal regions."She explained that the field of study is booming because small RNAs are important in their regulation of large numbers of genes in complex biological systems. One small RNA can regulate multiple genes, and researchers believe that more than10 percent of human genes are being regulated by small RNAs.

Small RNAs are characterized by a length of approximately 21 to 24 nucleotides. The biological activity of small RNAs was first described about 12 years ago, but the most substantial advances in this field have only been made in the last six or seven years.

To assist other small RNA researchers, the UD team has created a user-friendly web site [http://mpss.udel.edu/at] available to scientists to examine any gene or region of an Arabidopsis chromosome for matches to small RNAs.

Science is a prestigious journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The paper's first and second authors are Cheng Lu, a molecular biology postdoctoral researcher, and Shivakundan Singh Tej, a computer science student. Also among the authors, in addition to Green and Meyers, are Shujun Luo and Christian D. Haudenschild of Solexa.

"By working closely together, and with industrial collaborators," Green said, "the students and postdocs crossed the boundaries of their conventional training. This emulates the goals of UD and DBI for interdisciplinary research, education and economic development."

In addition to funding by NSF, the laboratories have received grants from DBI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue their work on small RNA analysis.

'"/>

Source:University of Delaware


Page: 1 2 3
Related biology news :

1. University of Delaware researchers develop cancer nanobomb
2. Wisconsin scientists grow critical nerve cells
3. UCSB scientists probe sea floor venting to gain understanding of early life on Earth
4. UAB scientists discover the origin of a mysterious physical force
5. Fox Chase Cancer Center scientists identify immune-system mutation
6. Weizmann Institute scientists develop a new approach for directing treatment to metastasized prostate cancer in the bones.
7. U-M scientists find genes that control growth of common skin cancer
8. UCLA scientists transform HIV into cancer-seeking missile
9. RNA project to create language for scientists worldwide
10. Carnegie Mellon scientists develop tool that uses MRI to visualize gene expression in living animals
11. To control germs, scientists deploy tiny agents provocateurs