Small RNAs Show Masterful Engineering

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DNA is a fabulous molecule, vitally important to living things. Studies of the genome show functions of DNA, then further details and mechanisms are discovered. Epigenetic changes are essentially on top of the genome, regulating how genes are expressed.

Also extremely important is RNA, and new research is showing that there are small RNAs that have some extremely important functions. It is also amazing that some changes made can be passed along to offspring, which is not good news for molecules-to-microbiologist evolution.

DNA illustration, Pixabay / Miroslaw Miras
Researchers injected RNA molecules into certain cells and saw that genes could be affected, even silenced. MicroRNAs regulate gene expression in an important way. Most of their work is outside the nucleus of the cell  but not always. Some of these can even help communications systems between cells. Also, these miRNAs are part of three main systems. Yes, life is the product of the Master Engineer, and the irreducible complexity is clearly demonstrated.
In addition to DNA methylation and histone modifications, scientists have discovered a powerful epigenetic system that operates on top of the genetic code in a very different way from being chemically attached to the chromatin itself. (DNA complexed with histones is called chromatin.) This amazing epigenetic paradigm is associated with very small RNA molecules that are heritable and that profoundly and adaptively affect the development of an organism’s offspring.

Although advanced knowledge of biology is helpful, it is helpful to read the entire article at "Small Heritable RNAs Pack a Big Adaptive Punch."