In vivo RNAi: Today and Tomorrow

RNA interference (RNAi) provides a powerful reverse genetics approach to analyze gene functions both in tissue culture and in vivo. Because of its widespread applicability and effectiveness it has become an essential part of the tool box kits of model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, and the mouse. In addition, the use of RNAi in animals in which genetic tools are either poorly developed or nonexistent enables a myriad of fundamental questions to be asked. Here, we review the methods and applications of in vivo RNAi to characterize gene functions in model organisms and discuss their impact to the study of developmental as well as evolutionary questions. Further, we discuss the applications of RNAi technologies to crop improvement, pest control and RNAi therapeutics, thus providing an appreciation of the potential for phenomenal applications of RNAi to agriculture and medicine. Outline 1 Introduction 2 RNAi reagents for in vivo screening 3 In vivo RNAi screening in C. elegans 4 In vivo RNAi screening in Drosophila 5 Applications of in vivo RNAi to the developmental biology of emerging systems and evo-devo 6 In vivo RNAi in vertebrate models 7 In vivo RNAi in plants: applications toward crop improvement 8 In vivo RNAi applications toward virus and pest control 9 In vivo RNAi applications in medicine