Final answer:
MicroRNA (miRNA) is the correct answer, as it regulates approximately one third of all protein coding genes in humans by binding to mRNA and affecting gene expression. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the question is D) microRNA (miRNA). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules consisting of approximately 22 nucleotides. In humans, there are groups of about 1000 miRNAs that are involved in the regulation of approximately one third of all protein coding genes.
They function in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. miRNAs bind to the complementary sequences on target messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts, resulting in translational repression or target degradation and gene silencing.