siRNAapproaches in cell biology

Abstract The success of the genome sequencing projects has given us access to the genetic identities of a wide range of organisms. Clearly, the greatest challenge now is to make use of this wealth of information and, specifically, to associate genes with physiological functions. In one of the bizarre coincidences that litter the history of scientific research, this challenge has emerged at the same time as a powerful new technique that seems ideally suited to the job in hand.