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Double-stranded RNA
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is RNA with two complementary strands found in cells. It is similar to DNA but with the replacement of thymine by uracil and the adding of one oxygen atom. They forms the genetic material of some viruses (double-stranded RNA viruses). dsRNA, such as viral RNA or siRNA, can trigger RNA interference in eukaryotes, as well as interferon response in vertebrates. In eukaryotes, dsRNA plays a role in the activation of the innate immune system against viral infections.

In general, dsRNAs share some significant characteristics:


 * 1) They are not transcribed from the DNA of the host genome.
 * 2) The majority of them are consistently present in the host at a low concentration.
 * 3) They do not appear to have a noticeable impact on the phenotype of their host.
 * 4) They are effectively carried to the next generation.

dsRNA range in size from 1.5 to 20 kbp. Smaller dsRNAs (<2.0 kbp) are frequently associated with virus-like particles, and some of these dsRNAs have already been identified as viruses belonging to the Partitiviridae family. They typically have two distinct linear dsRNA segments, each approximately 2.0 kbp in length. Segments larger than 10 kbp are unlikely to be linked to specific virus-like particles, as no unique virus-like particles have been identified in samples prepared using various purification techniques. For this reason, these large dsRNAs were previously referred to as enigmatic dsRNAs, endogenous dsRNAs, or RNA plasmids.