Non-coding small RNAs (19-24 nucleotide long) have recently been recognized as the important regulator of gene expression in both plants and animals. Several classes of endogenous short RNAs have partial or near perfect complementarity to mRNAs and a protein complex is guided by short RNAs to target mRNAs. The targeted mRNA is either cleaved or its translation is suppressed. Initially, short RNAs were believed to primarily regulate the normal development of plants and animals, but recent advances implicate short RNAs in environmental adaptation.