The majority of RNA expression differences between individuals have no connection to the abundance of a corresponding protein, report scientists from the University of Chicago and Stanford University in Science on Dec. 18. The findings point to a yet-unidentified cellular mechanism that regulates gene expression and suggest studies that rely only on RNA measurements to characterize gene function require further analysis.
“The chief assumption for studies of RNA differences is that they ultimately reflect differences in an end product, which is protein,” said senior study author Yoav Gilad, PhD, professor of human genetics at the University of Chicago. “But it turns out in most cases this may not be true.”
Interesting, when we consider the high hopes placed in RNA world.
See also: Welcome to “RNA world,” the five-star hotel of origin-of-life theories
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