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NOVA scienceNOW: RNAi
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Program Overview
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Teacher's Guide
(PDF, 4 pages)
An accidental finding related to an experiment with purple petunias
led to the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi is a cellular
mechanism that protects the cell from some types of viruses and from
certain forms of genetic material that could harm the cell. The
program explains how RNAi works and why it could become a valuable
tool in learning about how genes influence growth and development
and in curing or treating certain diseases.
This NOVA scienceNOW segment:
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reviews how proteins are made and notes the central role RNA
plays in protein synthesis.
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relates how geneticist Rich Jorgenson tried to make a petunia
with an especially deep purple hue by injecting petunias with
additional genes for purple pigment (in the form of
double-stranded RNA). Surprisingly, he got white flowers. This
unexpected result led researchers to the discovery of RNAi.
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explains that RNAi works as a defense system against viral RNA.
The genes the geneticist added to make more purple pigment in
the petunia caused the plant to respond as though it had been
infected with a virus, triggering an RNAi response. As a result,
the plant stopped making pigment, which resulted in the
production of only unpigmented (i.e., white) flowers.
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shows RNAi as a treatment for macular degeneration and mentions
other diseases, such as arthritis, cancer, and Lou Gehrig's
disease, that may potentially be treated with RNAi therapies.
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ventures that RNAi may be very important to the Human Genome
project by potentially giving scientists the ability to turn off
genes one at a time, providing insight into the function of
individual genes.
Taping Rights: Can be used up to one year after the program
is taped off the air.
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Order Free RNA DVD
HHMI offers a DVD that includes the broadcast version of the
NOVA scienceNOW RNAi segment, four lectures by Nobel Prize
winner Thomas R. Cech, and more.
Go to the order page
on the HHMI Web site.
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RNAi Discovered
Find an abbreviated version of this NOVA scienceNOW
video segment
(5m 43s) on Teachers' Domain.
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