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 |