| Feature | siRNA | miRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | mRNA, transposon, or virus | RNA transcribed from distinct gene |
| Cleavage of | RNA duplex or single-stranded RNA that forms long hairpins | Single-stranded RNA that forms short hairpins of double-stranded RNA |
| Action | Degradation of mRNA, inhibition of transcription, chromatin modification | Degradation of mRNA, inhibition of translation, chromatin modification |
| Target | Genes from which they were transcribed | Genes other than those from which they were transcribed |