The small RNA regulatory molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in the development of most organisms. The expression of many different miRNAs has been described in the developing and mature vertebrate retina. The ability of miRNAs to regulate a diversity of messenger RNA targets allows them to have effects on many different developmental processes, but the functions of only a few miRNAs have been documented to date. Developmental transitions between cell states appear to be particularly sensitive to miRNA loss of function, as evidenced by specific miRNA knockdowns or from global perturbations in miRNA levels (e.g., Dicer deletion). However, we are still in only the very early stages of understanding the range of cellular functions miRNAs control during development.

中文翻译：

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视网膜发育中的MicroRNA。

称为microRNA（miRNA）的小RNA调节分子在大多数生物体的发育中起关键作用。在发育中和成熟的脊椎动物视网膜中已经描述了许多不同的miRNA的表达。miRNA调节多种信使RNA靶标的能力使它们能够对许多不同的发育过程产生影响，但是迄今为止，只有少数miRNA的功能得到了证明。细胞状态之间的发育转变似乎对miRNA功能丧失特别敏感，这由特定的miRNA敲低或miRNA水平的整体扰动（例如Dicer缺失）证明。但是，我们仍仅处于了解miRNA在发育过程中控制细胞功能范围的早期阶段。