In vivo RNA interference: Another tool in the box?

Abstract

In classical forward genetics, genes were defined by the resulting phenotype. Later, analysis of individual genes at the molecular level became possible. The develop-ment of high-throughput methods for the sequencing and annotation of cDNA and whole genomes has led to the expansion of reverse genetics, in which access to gene sequences makes it possible to elucidate their biological function. Although this approach has greatly extended our knowledge of simple organisms (Hannon 2004), it is of limited use for investigating the more complex mammalian biological systems.