Transkriptomeen

Transkriptomeen is the complete set of RNA transcripts produced by an organism’s genome under a defined set of conditions, representing the transcriptomic state of a cell, tissue, or organism. It includes all RNA molecules transcribed from the genome, such as messenger RNAs, ribosomal and transfer RNAs, and a diverse array of noncoding RNAs. The transcriptome is dynamic and changes with developmental stage, cell type, environmental stimuli, and disease state.

The composition of the transkriptomeen encompasses coding and noncoding RNA species. In practice, studies may focus on polyadenylated RNA (primarily mRNA) or on total RNA, which includes noncoding transcripts such as microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and small interfering RNAs. The transcriptome also reflects alternative processing events, yielding multiple transcript isoforms from a single gene through mechanisms like alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation.

Measurement and analysis of the transkriptomeen rely on high-throughput sequencing and related technologies. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) is the standard method, often complemented by microarrays in earlier work. Data analysis involves aligning reads to a reference genome, assembling transcripts, quantifying expression levels (counts, TPM, or FPKM), and performing differential expression or isoform-specific analyses. Annotation and comparison across tissues, conditions, or species are common tasks.

Applications of transcriptome studies include elucidating developmental processes, understanding disease mechanisms, discovering biomarkers, and guiding drug responses or personalized medicine. Related fields such as transcriptomics and single-cell transcriptomics focus on broader or more granular perspectives of transcriptional landscapes. Challenges include managing transcriptional complexity, sequencing biases, and evolving genome annotations.