microRNA
noun
mi·cro·RNA
ˌmī-krō-ˌär-(ˌ)en-ˈā 
variants
or less commonly micro-RNA
genetics
: a short segment of RNA that suppresses gene expression by binding to complementary segments of messenger RNA and interfering with the formation of proteins by translation (see translation sense 2)
The 2006 Nobel Prize honored the discovery of RNA interference … and RNAi has helped shed light on the fact that cells naturally use RNA molecules just 20 to 22 nucleotides long, dubbed microRNAs, to regulate gene expression.—
Jennifer Couzin
Jennifer Couzincalled also miRNA
Examples of microRNA in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This means that microRNA helps control when and how much a particular protein should be made.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024
Fletcher said the most advanced studies to date are reviewing how microRNA approaches might help treat skin cancer, but no drugs have yet been approved.
—Daniel Niemann, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024
The field has developed a fairly solid understanding of how microRNA dysfunction contributes to disease.
—Andrea Kasinski, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2024
But subsequent work, including the discovery of another microRNA in 2000, proved that there are more than a thousand genes for different microRNAs in humans.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2024
And abnormal microRNA can cause too much or too little of a protein, which can contribute to cancer.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Oct. 2024
The circuit is designed to sense levels of microRNA—molecules that naturally regulate gene expression and give off different signatures in cancer cells versus healthy ones.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 22 Jan. 2024
In a paper published on 25 September in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, the team demonstrates that the strategy can simultaneously detect 40 biomarkers from human blood serum, including proteins, small RNA pieces called microRNA, and chemicals transmitted by brain cells (neurotransmitters).
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2023
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
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Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024
Fletcher said the most advanced studies to date are reviewing how microRNA approaches might help treat skin cancer, but no drugs have yet been approved.
—Daniel Niemann, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024
The field has developed a fairly solid understanding of how microRNA dysfunction contributes to disease.
—Andrea Kasinski, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2024
But subsequent work, including the discovery of another microRNA in 2000, proved that there are more than a thousand genes for different microRNAs in humans.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2024
And abnormal microRNA can cause too much or too little of a protein, which can contribute to cancer.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Oct. 2024
The circuit is designed to sense levels of microRNA—molecules that naturally regulate gene expression and give off different signatures in cancer cells versus healthy ones.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 22 Jan. 2024
In a paper published on 25 September in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, the team demonstrates that the strategy can simultaneously detect 40 biomarkers from human blood serum, including proteins, small RNA pieces called microRNA, and chemicals transmitted by brain cells (neurotransmitters).
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2023
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
Dictionary Entries Near microRNA
Cite this Entry
“MicroRNA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microRNA. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
microRNA
noun
mi·cro·RNA
ˌmī-krō-ˌär-en-ˈā
variants
also micro-RNA
: a short segment of RNA that suppresses gene expression by binding to complementary segments of messenger RNA and interfering with the formation of proteins during translation
These microRNAs (miRNAs)—21 to 25 nucleotides in length—are negative regulators of gene expression.—Paul S. Meltzer, Nature
Paul S. Meltzer, Naturecalled also miRNA
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