EPISODE 15: Silent but Deadly – How RNAi Changed Worms (and Science)
The Worm Podcast28 Mai 2025

EPISODE 15: Silent but Deadly – How RNAi Changed Worms (and Science)

In this episode, we rewind to one of biology’s biggest plot twists: RNA interference (RNAi). Scientists found that injecting double-stranded RNA into Caenorhabditis elegans could silence genes powerfully and precisely—far beyond anything single strands could achieve.


This game-changing discovery revealed:


  • How dsRNA triggers targeted gene shutdown

  • Why only a few molecules can silence thousands of cells

  • How gene silencing spreads across tissues

  • The first clues toward RNA-based therapies that would change medicine forever



📖 Based on the research article:

“Potent and specific genetic interference by double-stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans”

Andrew Fire, SiQun Xu, Mary K. Montgomery, Steven A. Kostas, Samuel E. Driver & Craig C. Mello.

Published in Nature (1998).

🔗 https://doi.org/10.1038/35888



🎧 Subscribe to the WoRM Podcast for more whole-organism stories that changed the world!


This podcast is generated with artificial intelligence and curated by Veeren. If you’d like your publication featured on the show, please get in touch.


📩 More info:

🔗 ⁠www.veerenchauhan.com⁠

📧 veeren.chauhan@nottingham.ac.uk

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