Because animals serve as important disease models for medical research as well as sources of food, it is important to understand how genetic mutations affect the diversity of food-producing animals. Previous studies involving livestock identified significant variability in miRNA within the same herd. Researchers from the University of Xi’an in China investigated the mi-RNA-mRNA interactions using two algorhithms. The focused specifically on the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within miRNA genes through the use of microarrays.
In a short communication article published in Animal Genetics, researchers reported that they found several SNPs located within the untranslated gene region of mRNAs in pigs, chickens and cows which had the potential to affect the miRNA-mRNA interactions as well as the miRISC. The SNPs they found were also located on miRNA and mRNA binding sites which would affect the interaction between the two. They also developed a database known as miRBond which will allow scientists to visualize and analyze datasets using their algorhithm method. It is expected that these studies will lead to further discoveries that will help scientists to understand the diversity among physical characteristics in domestic animals.
Sources: Animal Genetics; Yale University; Genetics Home Reference