核醣核酸(RNA)是基因表現的調控者,而核醣核酸干擾(RNA interference, RNAi)現象,是指短片段的雙股RNA能使得特定的訊息核醣核酸(messenger RNA, mRNA)分解,藉以阻斷這基因的表現。自從費爾(Andrew Z. Fire)和梅洛(Craig C. Mello)兩位科學家在1998年把某段基因特異性雙股RNA引入線蟲的細胞中,發現它可以調控基因表現後,陸續有其他研究發現這種現象普遍存在於不同生物體間。最近生物科技產業就開始嘗試以RNA干擾技術,增加CHO細胞生產蛋白藥物的產量。
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