Not just “On and Off”: micro-RNAs fine tune gene expression

The research group Gene Expression and Signaling investigates the various functions of micro-RNAs (miRNAs) under stress or pathological conditions using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model for human diseases. miRNA-based regulatory networks buffer mistakes or stochastic fluctuations during gene expression to maintain cell identity and control differentiation, ensuring that each cell is equipped with the correct repertoire of proteins and fulfills its particular tasks.