A Novel Role of Circular RNA in Intestinal Epithelial Repair

DNA makes RNA makes protein is the mantra learned in high school biology. However, completion of the human genome project1 revealed that we have far fewer genes than anticipated. In addition, advances in sequencing technologies and the development of an RNA atlas2 revealed that a substantial portion of our RNA does not code for proteins, suggesting that the above mantra may not be universal. Initially viewed as junk, these noncoding RNAs are now known to have many important roles in health and disease.