MicroRNAs in Development and Disease

Micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are small RNAs responsible for selective repression and degradation of mRNAs. Regulation by miRNAs during development facilitates the transition from one stage to the next and can control specialized characteristics of mature cells. When this regulation is disrupted, cancer can result through increases in proliferation and defects in differentiation. Keywords: microRNA; Dicer; development; developmental transition