This book provides an overview of the role and function of regulatory
RNAs that lack protein-coding potential in key reproductive tissues.
This includes the role of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs
(miRNAs), PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs)
and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Through clear, detailed and
comprehensive debate, international leading experts discuss the role
these novel regulators in normal development of sexual dimorphisms,
including the differentiation of ovaries and testes, the genital tract
including prostate, epididymis and uterus, as well as mammary glands. In
addition, particular attention is paid on their role in
pathophysiological processes within the reproductive tract.
The power of next generation sequencing has proved to be an invaluable
tool to discover new non-coding RNAs. While the identification of
non-coding RNA is relatively easy, analysing their function represents
still a challenge today. In this book, authors present historical and
conceptual background information, highlight the ways in which
non-coding RNAs function is analysed and present their vision of the
future research in their key research area.