A group of Korean scientists says it has discovered that microRNAs play a role in determining an organism’s size.

The scientists from Seoul National University said Friday that after conducting tests on fruit flies, they found that the microRNA regulator directly controls the miR-8 gene, which affects the insulin signal delivery mechanism.

The group said that miR-8-null flies had smaller wings and weighed less than normal fruit flies.

Given that the insulin signal delivery mechanism is reportedly linked with cancer, diabetes and aging, the scientists’ recent discovery is expected to help understand cancer and other diseases.

The group’s research results were published in the biweekly "Cell" magazine on Friday.