Question

Gene expression can be controlled with the help of RNA. Explain the method with an example.

Answer 1

Gene expression can be controlled by using RNA molecules. The technology is called RNA interference or RNAi. It is used to block the expression of certain genes and also referred to as gene silencing. During this process, a complementary RNA to the mRNA being produced by the gene is introduced into the cell. This RNA binds to the mRNA making it double-stranded and therefore stops translation. Resistance to nematode Meloidogyne incognita in tomato has been achieved by this method.