The present invention provides compounds and methods for competitive modulation of microRNAs. Such compounds and methods have profound effects on cells. MicroRNAs (microRNAs), are small (approximately 18-24 nucleotides in length), non-coding RNA molecules encoded in the genomes of plants and animals. In certain instances, microRNAs regulate the expression of genes by binding to the 3′-untranslated regions (3′-UTR) of specific mRNAs. More than 1000 different microRNAs have been identified in plants and animals.