Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered family of small non-coding RNAs, which exist in eukaryotes and regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to complementary sites on target mRNAs. MiRNAs play important roles in regulation of cell proliferation, development, apoptosis and cell differentiation. It's predicted that about 1% human known genes encode microRNAs and microRNAs may regulate 10~30%of the genes within the human genome. Here we focus on the knowledge about how to recognize miRNAs and identify their target mRNAs.

Key words: microRNA, target mRNA, Non-coding miRNA