Long non-coding RNAs in animal genomes: challenges and promises

Abstract

Majority of the eukaryotic genes do not code for proteins, i.e., there are regions without coding potential. If they do not code, it was earlier supposed to be of disinterest as they wouldn't be associated with any disease. However, the last decade has seen advances in the field with certain (non-coding) RNA molecules transcribed; regulate expression of genes and further known to affect the transcription and cell cycle of organism. A class of such non-coding RNAs identified during the last decade is long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) that are known to play a role in wide variety of diseases. We outline a few challenges and promises of lncRNAs specific to animal/livestock genomes that we could exploit in identifying their role in various diseases. For brevity, we have considered bovine/clinical mastitis to show an example.