The spelling of "mRNA Differential Display" is fairly straightforward if you're familiar with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable is pronounced /ɛm/, which is the phonetic symbol for the letter "m." The second syllable is /ɑr/, which represents the "ar" sound in words like "car" and "bar." The final two syllables are /ˈdɪfərənʃəl/ and /dɪsˈplɛɪ/, respectively, with the stressed syllables underlined. "Differential" is pronounced with the primary stress on the second syllable, while "display" has the primary stress on the first syllable.
mRNA Differential Display is a molecular biology technique used to analyze and compare the gene expression patterns of different cell types or tissues. It involves the identification and isolation of differentially expressed genes, which are genes that are upregulated or downregulated in specific conditions or diseases.
The mRNA in a cell carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes, where it is translated into proteins. In mRNA Differential Display, the process starts by extracting and isolating the total RNA from two or more samples of interest. Next, the RNA is reverse transcribed to complementary DNA (cDNA) using reverse transcriptase enzyme. The cDNA is then subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using arbitrary primers.
The PCR products are separated by electrophoresis on a polyacrylamide gel, and the resulting band patterns are visualized using techniques like silver staining or autoradiography. The bands that appear in different samples are indicative of differential gene expression between them. These differentially expressed bands are excised, reamplified, purified, and cloned for further analysis.
mRNA Differential Display allows researchers to identify and study genes that are involved in various biological processes, such as development, differentiation, and disease progression. It provides a powerful tool for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes and for discovering potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, this technique can contribute to the field of personalized medicine by helping to identify genes that are differentially expressed in various diseases and may serve as diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets.