Traditionally evolutionary studies are done with DNA. For the miRNA lab, you are going to observe RNA rather than DNA. How can looking at expression of RNA contribute to understanding evolution? Solution RNA-based evolution has been a debatable topic in the field of evolutionary studies. Most often and traditionally evolutionary studies are performed using DNA-based information. But many newly discovered aspects of RNA has made it to a competitive choice in evolutionary studies. One such aspect of RNA is silencing of gene transcripts, hence regulation of the proteins to be produced by translation of those transcripts. This process is known as RNA interference and a class of RNA called micro RNA (miRNAs) play an important role in such gene silencing. Micro RNAs or miRNAs are small RNA molecules which are not translated into proteins, rather they act independently to regulate gene expression in cells. The miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved in most living beings and hence used as a marker for phylogenetic studies. For identification of novel miRNA genes and finding the origin of miRNA, RNA studies are done. RNA is now being considered as independent entities and not just a connecting link between DNA and proteins. RNA in the form of enzymes and catalytic molecules, or even miRNAs, can carry out RNA processing events. These RNA processing events are passed on from generation to generation just like heritable DNA changes.Thus, in miRNA lab, RNA expression studies can contribute in understanding the evolution with respect to RNA..

1. Traditionally evolutionary studies are done with DNA. For the miRNA lab, you are going to
observe RNA rather than DNA. How can looking at expression of RNA contribute to
understanding evolution?
Solution
RNA-based evolution has been a debatable topic in the field of evolutionary studies. Most often
and traditionally evolutionary studies are performed using DNA-based information. But many
newly discovered aspects of RNA has made it to a competitive choice in evolutionary studies.
One such aspect of RNA is silencing of gene transcripts, hence regulation of the proteins to be
produced by translation of those transcripts. This process is known as RNA interference and a
class of RNA called micro RNA (miRNAs) play an important role in such gene silencing.
Micro RNAs or miRNAs are small RNA molecules which are not translated into proteins, rather
they act independently to regulate gene expression in cells. The miRNAs are evolutionarily
conserved in most living beings and hence used as a marker for phylogenetic studies. For
identification of novel miRNA genes and finding the origin of miRNA, RNA studies are done.
RNA is now being considered as independent entities and not just a connecting link between
DNA and proteins. RNA in the form of enzymes and catalytic molecules, or even miRNAs, can
carry out RNA processing events. These RNA processing events are passed on from generation
to generation just like heritable DNA changes.Thus, in miRNA lab, RNA expression studies can
contribute in understanding the evolution with respect to RNA.