What is microRNA, the discovery which was awarded Nobel Prize?

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a small RNA molecule that controls gene expression mainly by binding with specific messenger RNAs (mRNA). While RNA transcription and splicing are controlled by proteins in the nucleus, miRNA controls the translation and degradation of mRNA in cytoplasm. US scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were awarded 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering microRNA.