Gene expression
Pea aphid miRNAs and plasticity
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
Pea aphids encode dozens of miRNAs whose expression tracks phenotypic plasticity.
Study at a glance
- Design
- Computational / modelling — Homology, deep sequencing (~3M reads), and RT-PCR validation of pea aphid miRNAs
- N
- 43 putative miRNAs (33 RT-PCR validated); sequencing resource study without a sample N
- Population
- Acyrthosiphon pisum (pea aphid) genome and small-RNA libraries
- Outcome
- Predicted and validated pea aphid microRNA repertoire
Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.
Key findings
43 putative miRNAs (44 precursors); 33 validated by RT-PCR; size peak at 22 nt.
Methodology
Combined homology, deep sequencing (~3M reads), and genome scans to predict miRNAs, then RT-PCR validated many and compared morphs.
Limitations
Does not fully prove each miRNA’s causal target network in every morph.
How this study connects
Role on claims
Each row is a claim on a concept or method page where this paper supports, challenges, or qualifies the statement. Roles are hand-checked — not a model guess.
RT-PCR can confirm predicted non-coding RNAs as well as protein-coding genes. Pea-aphid work combined homology, ~3 million deep-sequencing reads and genome scans to predict 43 miRNAs (44 precursors); 33 were validated by RT-PCR, with a size peak at 22 nt — still short of proving each miRNA's causal target network in every morph.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
qPCR is not one experiment. Cod heat-shock QPCR and aphid miRNA RT-PCR quantify candidate transcripts after a screen; chicken defensin RT-PCR confirms that predicted genes are expressed; bee work quantifies 16S community size. Treating those as interchangeable 'expression papers' hides whether the template is host mRNA, a miRNA, or bacterial DNA.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
Open questions
Tensions this paper is part of
From concept pages' “where studies disagree.” Disagreement means the same question; scope means different assays, populations, or outcomes.
qPCR is not one experiment. Cod heat-shock QPCR and aphid miRNA RT-PCR quantify candidate transcripts after a screen; chicken defensin RT-PCR confirms that predicted genes are expressed; bee work quantifies 16S community size. Treating those as interchangeable 'expression papers' hides whether the template is host mRNA, a miRNA, or bacterial DNA.
- Supports · Atlantic cod heat-shock gene responses
- Supports · Chicken β-defensin gene cluster
- Supports · Antibiotics hurt bee gut and survival
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Same topic cluster — not a recommendation engine.