[...]... of microRNAs The development and brisk progress in microRNAs research over the past few years allowed us to comprehend the genomics at a newer scale Therefore, it is now an ideal time to examine the available evidence in a systematic way in order to know where this impressive field is going MicroRNAs: From Basics to Disease Biology is mainly intended for readers in the fields of molecular cell biology, ... of attention to microRNAs research and since then many groups have identified microRNAs in various organisms, from protozoans to humans The paradigm from the heterochromic lin-4/lin-14 genes remains the model; miRNAs have now been shown to control mRNA abundance in plants, and are thought to regulate many more steps beyond translation Despite considerable attention having been paid to microRNAs over... initiate microRNA research in their own laboratories Additionally, this book will serve MicroRNAs: From Basic Science to Disease Biology, ed Krishnarao Appasani Published by Cambridge University Press # Cambridge University Press 2008 2 Introduction as a descriptive and in-depth scientific explanatory analysis for executives and scientists in research and development from biotech and pharmaceutical companies... for investors and those responsible for business development in the life sciences, who need to keep abreast with the microRevolution Most importantly, my hope is that this volume will serve both as a prologue to the field for newcomers, as well as an update to those already active in the field Sydney Brenner from the MRC Molecular Biology Laboratory in Cambridge opened the field of C elegans biology. .. integrates the academic science with industrial applications from the diverse role of microRNAs development to disease biology, covering bioinformatics, quantitation, prognosis and diagnostics as well drug development and validation This book will serve as a reference for graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and professors from academic research institutions who wish to initiate microRNA research... difficult to envision at this early stage, but it is already clear from the work reported here that microRNAs will figure significantly in the molecular pathology of many diseases This volume marks the state of the field at this moment, circa 2008, but we can be assured that there are still major surprises and important principles to emerge from future research on microRNAs This is apparent from the... Cell Biology and Anatomy University of Arizona PO Box 245044 Life Sciences North 462 1501 N Campbell Avenue Tucson, AZ 85724-5044, USA List of contributors Sean Davey Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy University of Arizona PO Box 245044 Life Sciences North 462 1501 N Campbell Avenue Tucson, AZ 85724-5044, USA Matthias Eder Hanover Medical School Center for Internal Medicine Department of Hematology... DK-2970, Denmark Simran Kaur Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy University of Arizona PO Box 245044 Life Sciences North 462 1501 N Campbell Avenue Tucson, AZ 85724-5044, USA Jay H Konieczka Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy University of Arizona PO Box 245044 Life Sciences North 462 1501 N Campbell Avenue Tucson, AZ 85724-5044, USA List of contributors Tomoko Kozu Division of Cancer Treatment Research... lot of questions remain unanswered The mechanism of action of microRNAs is still controversial and only a few in vivo functions of microRNAs have been demonstrated in any organism to date In this book I intend to bring the various aspects of microRNA research together, including the biology, applications, their role in stem cell and disease biology As the field of microRNomics is rapidly growing, any... unexpected ways These little regulators seem to be engaged in practically every aspect of metazoan biology, regulating diverse processes including viral replication, cell fate, morphogenesis, differentiation, physiology, and disease This versatility of microRNAs is reflected by the diverse array of topics included in this volume, which capture the status of understanding of microRNA biology in 2008 These chapters . Editor of RNA Interference: From Basic Science to Drug Development (2005). To my wife Shyamala for her 25 years companionship MicroRNAs FROM BASIC SCIENCE. pharmaceutical companies who need to understand this emerging technology. From the discovery of miRNAs and their functions to their detection and role in disease biology, this