Non-coding RNAs: a new RNA world

These days, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including small RNAs and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) are among the hottest topics in biology. Various types of ncRNAs and their functions have been discovered: from the well-understood tRNAs, rRNAs and miRNAs to the relatively less known piRNAs and lncRNAs. As more and more mysteries about ncRNAs are resolved, scientists look toward new methodologies and technologies to further explore the ncRNA wonderland. Haifan Lin and Yijun Qi, two renowned biologists based in the USA and China, respectively, recently spoke with NSR about their research and views on ncRNAs.