They have been found to regulate genes involved in diverse biological functions, including development, differentiation, proliferation, and stress response.
Plant miRNAs are indispensable for the control of wide variety of biological functions, including development, hormone responses, feedback mechanisms and biotic and abiotic stresses [ 1, 2].
MicroRNAs have been found to regulate genes involved in diverse biological functions, including development, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis (Ambros, 2004; Croce and Calin, 2005; Bushati and Cohen, 2007).
miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs (20 22 nucleotides long) that are excised from longer (60 110 nucleotides) RNA precursor [ 105, 106] and act in different biological functions including development, proliferation, differentiation and cell death [ 125, 126].
Summary: RNA silencing is a complex, highly conserved mechanism mediated by small RNAs (sRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), that is known to be involved in a diverse set of biological functions including development, pathogen control, genome maintenance and response to environmental change.
The miRNAs are a family of small endogenous noncoding single-stranded RNA molecules that regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally by directing mRNA degradation or translational repression and control many biological functions, including development and tissue-specific processes in both plants and animals [ 4, 5].
MiRNAs are implicated in normal biological functioning, including development, differentiation, homeostasis and apoptotic cell death [ 1].
The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones, playing a critical role in nearly all biological functions including growth, development and reproduction.
Smad4 and its homologs mediate signals from cytokines of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family from cell surface receptors to the nucleus where they regulate a diverse array of target genes involved in numerous biological functions including embryonic development, cell growth and differentiation, modulation of immune responses, and bone formation.
The rhythmic activities of the central pattern generator neurons (CPG) are essential for numerous biological functions, including brain development [1], [2], locomotion [3], energy balance [4], and respiration [5], [6].
Moreover, these DEGs were overrepresented in networks executing biological functions including embryonic development, neurological disease, drug metabolism and molecular transport.
