miRNA
noun
genetics
: microrna
A major part of this regulation is performed by microRNAs (miRNAs), small RNA molecules encoded by the genome that are not translated into proteins; rather, they control the expression of genes.—
Sebastien S. Hebert et al.
Sebastien S. Hebert et al.Examples of miRNA in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Typically the miRNA comes from a longer molecule, perhaps around 70 nucleotides long, known as pre-miRNA.
—Philip Ball, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
Why would miRNA gene regulation work in this complicated way?
—Philip Ball, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
Shown are a variety of nucleic acids — messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA), small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) — as well as classes of proteins that serve different functions.
—Matías A. Loewy, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2023
The findings suggest that the specific serum miRNA profiles may serve as fingerprints for disease diagnosis.
—Chao Yan, Scientific American, 17 June 2020
In 2017, Lönnerdal and his colleagues explored this question by exposing miRNA-containing exosomes from breast milk to acidic conditions that mimic those in the infant gut and observing how the packages fared2.
—Tien Nguyen, Scientific American, 17 June 2020
So a single miRNA might match 20–50 mRNAs, Hicks says.
—Tien Nguyen, Scientific American, 17 June 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Philip Ball, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
Why would miRNA gene regulation work in this complicated way?
—Philip Ball, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
Shown are a variety of nucleic acids — messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA), small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) — as well as classes of proteins that serve different functions.
—Matías A. Loewy, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2023
The findings suggest that the specific serum miRNA profiles may serve as fingerprints for disease diagnosis.
—Chao Yan, Scientific American, 17 June 2020
In 2017, Lönnerdal and his colleagues explored this question by exposing miRNA-containing exosomes from breast milk to acidic conditions that mimic those in the infant gut and observing how the packages fared2.
—Tien Nguyen, Scientific American, 17 June 2020
So a single miRNA might match 20–50 mRNAs, Hicks says.
—Tien Nguyen, Scientific American, 17 June 2020
Dictionary Entries Near miRNA
Cite this Entry
“MiRNA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miRNA. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
miRNA
noun
: microrna
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 20- to 22-nucleotide RNAs that regulate the function of eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and play important roles in development, cancer, stress responses, and viral infections.—J. Ross Buchan et al., Science
J. Ross Buchan et al., ScienceMany of the noncoding RNAs, epitomized by the miRNA, have regulatory functions in normal cells. The aberrant expression of miRNA promotes tumorigenesis, metastasis, and other features of cancer.—Frank J. Slack et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Frank J. Slack et al., The New England Journal of MedicineLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share