Gene knockdown is a process used to reduce the expression of specific genes in an organism. There are various synonyms for this process, including gene silencing, RNA interference, and antisense therapy. Gene silencing involves the use of small RNA molecules to target and inhibit specific genes. RNA interference is a similar process that involves the introduction of double-stranded RNA molecules to degrade specific mRNA transcripts. Antisense therapy also targets specific RNA molecules and prevents them from being translated into proteins. All of these methods can be used to study the function of genes or to develop new therapies for genetic diseases.