Gene knockdown

A gene knockdown, isgenetically modified organism that carries one or more genesits chromosomes that has been made less active or had its "expression" reduced. So far such organisms have been engineered chieflyresearch purposes. Also known as knockdown organisms or simply knockdowns, their most direct use islearning aboutgene that has been sequenced, but has an unknown or incompletely known function. Researchers draw inferences from howknockdown differs from individualswhichgeneinterest has not been made inoperative. Knockdownalsoprocesscreating such an organism, as"knocking downgene."

A popular methodknocking downexpression ofgenethrough supressiontranslation using "small interfering RNA."

Compare: gene knockout