Table 1 Comparison between different methods for gene silencing.
From: RNA interference: learning gene knock-down from cell physiology
| Method | Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| RNA interference |
Specific Relatively easy |
Knock-down (not knock-out) Needs transfection |
| Anti-sense DNA |
Easy Inexpensive |
Variable efficiency Variable specificity Needs transfection |
| Dominant negative mutants |
Stable suppression Specific protein domains can be targeted |
Needs transfection Variable/unexpected effect |
| Knock-out animal | Complete gene silencing |
Labor intensive, expensive Lethal mutants may prevent embryonic development |
| Small molecule inhibitors | Easy delivery |
Variable specificity Labor intensive development |