ABSTRACT
This is the advent of RNA medicine. The successful development of effective mRNA vaccines in record time has opened the door for greater productivity. In the case of SARS-CoV-19, the mRNAs encode the virus spike protein which elicits a strong immune response. Other RNA successes include RNA biobanking, trans-splicing (RNA repair), and RNA reprogramming. The protocols and accompanying discussion in the preceding chapters of this text illustrate various methods for the expedient isolation of RNA from a variety of biological sources and its subsequent analysis. The judicious application of various combinations of these techniques constitutes a systematic method for understanding the role of the products of transcription in the regulation of gene expression. Any experimental model can be well-characterized by assaying specific mRNAs as one parameter of gene expression, although having protein expression data from the Western analysis, immunochemical, or other proteomics techniques generally provides a more complete understanding of gene regulation under a specific set of conditions. Real-time PCR, miRNA cataloging, and innovations in sequencing, particular RNA-seq, have facilitated profiling the depths of cellular biochemistry at levels inconceivable 10 years ago and these methods continue to offer great potential. Bioinformatics, email, social media, and all types of online tools provide a platform for literature search or a great deal of background reading without leaving one’s desk. There are a number of different Internet-based bulletin boards where scientists with difficulties can post specific questions and hope for an answer from the readership.