Do we eat gene regulators?

In a recent study, plant microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found in the sera and tissues of various animals including humans. These miRNAs are acquired orally by food intake and can pass through the mammalian gastrointestinal tract into sera and organs. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that these plant microRNAs in food can regulate the expression of target genes in mammals. Correct regulation or dysregulation of miRNAs is linked to important gene expression patterns and diseases, such as cancer and arteriosclerosis. Interestingly, plant miRNA function in mammalian cells is similar to the function of mammalian miRNAs; this gives rise to some notable questions.