[Application of RNAi technology to knockdown gene expression in vivo in mammalians].

Post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) initiated by dsRNA, which result in specific degradation of homologous mRNA, is called RNAi. The discovery of RNAi greatly intrigued researchers, and was followed by a flood of papers that described the phenomenon and mechanism of RNAi. More excitingly, RNAi has recently been developed into a new tool, showing promising role in reverse genetics, gene therapy and anti-viral infection. This review provides the progress of the application of RNAi technology in mammalian animals.