Editing Non-coding RNA (section)

===In genome defense===

[[Piwi-interacting RNA]]s (piRNAs) expressed in
[[mammal]]ian [[testes]] and [[somatic cell]]s form RNA-protein complexes with [[Piwi]] proteins. These piRNA complexes (piRCs) have been linked to transcriptional gene silencing of [[retrotransposon]]s and other genetic elements in [[germline]] cells, particularly those in [[spermatogenesis]].

[[CRISPR|Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats]] (CRISPR) are repeats found in the [[DNA]] of many [[bacteria]] and [[archaea]]. The repeats are separated by spacers of similar length. It has been demonstrated that these spacers can be derived from phage and subsequently help protect the cell from infection.