Characterization of the small mitochondrial RNAs, and their role in the regulation of mito-nuclear interactions.

In this thesis, we characterized a new class of small RNAs encoded within the mitochondrial genome. We present evidence that these small RNAs are involved in a process called RNA interference and that they are conserved across animals. We document evidence that the small mitochondrial RNAs are able to interact with nuclear mRNAs, thus suggesting that these RNAs can influence cell regulation and animal phenotypes.