Patent ID: 8877721

Claim:
A method of increasing the expression of a p21 gene comprising: introducing a double stranded small activating RNA (saRNA) molecule 19-21 base pairs in length into a mammalian cell to increase expression of the p21 gene, wherein the saRNA molecule comprises a first ribonucleic acid strand comprising: a 5′ region of complementarity to a promoter region of the p21 gene; and a 3′ terminal region of at least one nucleotide that is non-complementary to the promoter region, wherein introducing the saRNA molecule increases expression of the p21 gene, wherein the promoter region is a region comprising a sequence that forms a duplex with a nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24, wherein dTdT sequence in SEQ ID NO: 24 is an overhang that does not form the duplex.