RNA interference: Biology and prospects of application in biomedicine and biotechnology

RNA interference is one of the most important mechanisms regulating gene expression. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) play an essential role in cell defense against virus infection or retrotransposons. The use of siRNAs gives wide opportunities for treating virus infections and cancer. RNA interference allows rapid construction of monogenic functional knockouts, thereby providing a convenient tool for researchers. The review considers the current views of the mechanisms of RNA interference and modern approaches to its practical application.