“Canonical RNAi in vivo in mice”

Canonical RNAi, i.e. long dsRNA-induced mRNA degradation, is essentially not operating in vivo in mammalian somatic cells. Low efficiency of dsRNA conversion into small interfering RNA by Dicer was identified as key limiting factor for canonical RNAi in mammals. We have genetically engineered mice to express a more active Dicer variant and investigated how this impacts mouse development and RNAi activity in vivo.