An introduction to biotechnology

Abstract

Typically, genes are delivered to a cell to increase the expression of a protein. RNA interference (RNAi), however, is used to lower or eliminate the production of a protein. In a gene delivery sense, the technology is very similar to transfection or transduction. From the poly(nucleotide) side of things, however, RNAi technology is quite different. This chapter will cover the interesting origins of RNAi technology and then progress into different specific applications and their mechanisms of action.