Global sequencing of cleaved mRNAs enables identification of the targets of microRNA silencing Hundreds of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified in plants and animals by cloning and sequencing, but assigning these miRNAs to their cognate target genes remains technically challenging1,2. In this issue, German et al.3 describe the use of high-throughput sequencing to globally sample degraded RNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana and thereby identify new miRNAs and their targets. Similar techniques have

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... en developed in two other recent reports4,5; together, the three studies provide powerful new tools for miRNA discovery and the analysis of mRNA turnover.