Patent ID: 8796444

Claim:
A nucleic acid molecule capable of reducing expression of a target gene following cleavage by human Dicer enzyme comprising: a first oligonucleotide strand 25-30 nucleotides in length comprising RNA, a 3′ terminus and a 5′ terminus, and a second oligonucleotide strand at least 26 nucleotides in length comprising RNA, a 3′ terminus, a 5′ terminus and a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a sequence of a target mRNA of said target gene, wherein said second strand is annealed to said first strand under biological conditions to form a duplex region of at least 25 nucleotides in length, wherein the 5′ terminus of said second strand forms a blunt end with the 3′ terminus of said first strand, wherein said second strand comprises a 1-4 nucleotide 3′-overhang with respect to the 5′ terminus of said first strand, and wherein said nucleic acid molecule is cleaved by human Dicer enzyme to facilitate incorporation of a cleavage product of said second oligonucleotide strand into RISC.