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RNA silencing

Genomic defence with a slice of pi

In fruit flies, a few very large genes generate the small RNAs that silence parasitic DNA elements. These RNAs might also participate in an amplification circuit that increases their potency.

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Figure 1: piRNA-mediated silencing of transposons.

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Zamore, P. Genomic defence with a slice of pi. Nature 446, 864–865 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/446864a

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