Knockdown
Knockdown (pronounced: /ˈnɒkdaʊn/) is a term used in various fields of medicine, particularly in genetics and molecular biology, to refer to the process of reducing or eliminating the function of a gene.
Etymology
The term "knockdown" is derived from the English words "knock" and "down", which in this context means to reduce or eliminate something. It was first used in the field of genetics in the late 20th century.
Definition
In genetics, a knockdown is achieved through the introduction of a specially designed RNA molecule that has a sequence complementary to that of a target gene. The RNA molecule binds to the mRNA of the target gene and prevents it from being translated into protein, effectively reducing or eliminating the function of the gene. This process is also known as RNA interference (RNAi).
Related Terms
- RNA interference (RNAi): A biological process in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression or translation, by neutralizing targeted mRNA molecules.
- Gene: The basic physical and functional unit of heredity. Genes are made up of DNA.
- mRNA: Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded RNA molecule that is complementary to one of the DNA strands of a gene.
- Protein: A molecule composed of polymers of amino acids joined together by peptide bonds.
Applications
Knockdown is used in research to study the function of genes. By reducing or eliminating the function of a gene, scientists can observe the effects on an organism and gain insights into what that gene does. This can help in the understanding of diseases and the development of treatments.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Knockdown
- Wikipedia's article - Knockdown
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