Introduction

The following sections are included:

• Philosophical Contemplations

• A Short History of RNA Silencing

  • Remarks on the “pre-history” of gene (RNA) silencing

  • Notes on the silencing history

  • Co-suppression in transgenic plants

  • Rearrangement induced premeiotically in hyphal fungi

  • Reduction of viral pathogenicity in plants

  • Early studies on silencing of transposable elements in plants