What does RNAi do to double-stranded RNA?

The correct answer highlights the primary function of RNA interference (RNAi) in the context of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). RNAi is a biological process in which double-stranded RNA molecules trigger the degradation of specific messenger RNA (mRNA) targets that are complementary to the dsRNA. This leads to the destruction of the mRNA, thereby preventing the expression of the gene that it is associated with.

The mechanism involves the processing of dsRNA into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) by an enzyme called Dicer. These siRNAs are then incorporated into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), where they guide the complex to the matching mRNA, leading to its degradation. This is a crucial mechanism for post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and plays a significant role in cellular defense against viral RNA and the regulation of transposable elements.

The other options do not accurately represent the role of RNAi in relation to dsRNA. For example, RNAi does not conserve or structure dsRNA; instead, it actively disrupts it. Similarly, it does not replace dsRNA but utilizes its presence to initiate the degradation of mRNA for gene silencing purposes. Understanding this process is key when studying gene regulation and cellular responses to foreign