Short segments of RNA are like sentences. The number of sentences you can make with twenty letters are many, but the effect upon reading will vary considerably. Not all RNA segments will target successfully; that is, they may silence the wrong segments of the genome, causing unforeseen consequences, like careless statements. 

> Nucleic acid-induced gene silencing, such as RNA interference (RNAi), induces a multitude of responses in addition to the knockdown of a gene. This is best understood in the context of the antiviral immune response, from which the processes of RNAi are thought to be derived. Viral challenge of a vertebrate host leads to an intricate series of responses that orchestrate antiviral immunity. The success of this multifaceted system in overcoming viral encounters hinges on complex pathogen–host interactions. 

> These diverse dsRNA-induced antiviral responses have implications for biotechnologies that use dsRNA to harness one arm of the host antiviral machinery for silencing a specific target gene. The interlinked nature of these response elements means that it may be difficult to completely isolate one element from the other arms of the antiviral response program of an organism. Thus, it is beneficial to understand all aspects of the immune response to dsRNA in order to manipulate these systems and minimize unwanted non-specific effects.

Immune responses to dsRNA: Implications for gene silencing technologies
Immunology and Cell Biology (2005) 83, 211–216

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