Authors:
Xue Tian, Junbing Jiang, Ruiwen Fan, Haidong Wang, Xiaolin Meng, Xiaoyan He, Junping He, Hongquan Li, Jianjun Geng, Xiuju Yu, Yunfei Song, Danli Zhang, Jianbo Yao, George W Smith and Changsheng Dong

Date of Publication:
October 2012

Publication:
BMC Genomics, 2012, 13:555

Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding 21–25 nt RNA molecules that play an important role in regulating gene expression. Little is known about the expression profiles and functions of miRNAs in skin and their role in pigmentation. Alpacas have more than 22 natural coat colors, more than any other fiber producing species. To better understand the role of miRNAs in control of coat color we performed a comprehensive analysis of miRNA expression profiles in skin of white versus brown alpacas.

Read the rest of the article: https://bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2164-13-555