Providing a comprehensive overview of a fast-emerging field, this description of the biological role of microRNAs discusses methods for identifying and characterizing their functions and looks at potential applications of microRNA research in medicine and pharmacology. First identified a decade ago, microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules that appear to regulate gene expression. Found in plant and animal species and possibly traceable back to ancient forms of life, miRNAs are now estimated to regulate a third or more of human genes.

Neil J. Clarke, PhD, is a molecular biologist and the manager of gene interference research for GlaxoSmithKline. Philippe Sanseau, PhD, is a molecular biologist specializing in cancer and immunogenetics. He is the director of bioinformatics at GlaxoSmithKline.