RNAsekvenssin

RNAsekvenssin, often shortened to RNA sequencing or RNA-seq, is a laboratory technique used to analyze the complete set of RNA transcripts in a biological sample. It leverages next-generation sequencing technologies to provide a snapshot of the transcriptome, which is the entire collection of RNA molecules produced by a cell or organism at a specific time and under particular conditions. This includes messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries genetic instructions for protein synthesis, as well as non-coding RNAs like ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and various regulatory RNAs.

The primary goal of RNA-seq is to identify and quantify RNA transcripts. By sequencing these molecules, researchers can determine which genes are being expressed, to what extent, and in what cellular context. This information is crucial for understanding gene regulation, cellular function, and the molecular basis of diseases. Common applications include differential gene expression analysis, where researchers compare RNA levels between different samples to identify genes that are up- or down-regulated. It can also be used to discover novel transcripts, splice variants, and identify gene fusions. The process typically involves isolating RNA, converting it to complementary DNA (cDNA), fragmenting the cDNA, preparing sequencing libraries, and then sequencing these fragments. The resulting sequence data is then aligned to a reference genome or transcriptome and analyzed to extract biological insights.