A tiny helper lightens the maternal load.

Weigel, Detlef; Izaurralde, Elisa · Cell · 2006

editorial · Level V

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Abstract

In a recent issue of Science, the puzzle of how a large number of maternal mRNAs can be coordinately destroyed at the mid-blastula transition of early animal embryogenesis is solved. The mysterious agent is not a protein but rather a microRNA that is transcribed at this transition point.

Medical subject headings