RNAi for livestock improvement

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1

ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

2

Genetics Laboratory, Dairy Production Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (SRS), Southern Regional Station, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

3

Principal Scientist, ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Adugodi, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) has come as a revolutionary breakthrough showing that gene expression can be effectively silenced in a highly specific manner through the addition of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). It is a natural defense mechanism to mediate protection from both endogenous and exogenous pathogenic nucleic acids and to modulate gene expression. It has the potential in the identification and functional assessment of thousands genes within any genome that is responsible for livestock improvement. This promising approach also imparts its effective and efficient role to knock down the expression of any particular gene through short interfering RNA molecules in any target cell, and moreover, to assess the changes that occur in signaling pathways. This technology is being utilized for suppressing of infectious pathogens, direct targeting of pathogens, improving meat and milk quality, bioreactors of humanized organs, and therapeutic interventions.

source: sciencedirect.com