Figure 2

Distribution of gapped-BLAST scores in hits made by microRNAs and scrambled counterparts. Without permitting G:U matches in the extension phase, the microRNAs had better average gapped-BLAST scores than scrambled counterparts across all mRNAs in the "10+ set" (153.00 ± 0.03 vs. 150.98 ± 0.01, mean ± s.e.m., p < 0.0001). With permitting G:U matches in the extension phase, the microRNA set showed significantly fewer G:U matches overall relative to scrambled counterparts, even when holding constant the length of the exact hit (2.891 ± 0.004 vs. 2.939 ± 0.001, p < 0.0001).