Genome-wide microRNA screening in Nile tilapia reveals pervasive transcription of isomiRs, sex-biased arm switching and increasing complexity of expression throughout development. Oreochromis niloticus

The elucidation of microRNA function and evolution depends on the identification and characterization of miRNA repertoire of strategic organisms, as the fast evolving cichlid fishes. Using RNA-seq and comparative genomics we carried out an in-depth report of miRNAs in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Our results enlarge vertebrate miRNAs collection and reveal a notable differential expression of miRNAs arms and isoforms influenced by sex and developmental life stage, providing a better picture of the evolutionary and spatiotemporal dynamics of miRNAs. Overall design: Discovery and evolutionary analysis of microRNAs