Transcriptome YY

What is Transcriptome?

The transcriptome is the set of all messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules in one cell or a population of cells. It differs from the exome in that it includes only those RNA molecules found in a specified cell population, and usually includes the amount or concentration of each RNA molecule in addition to the molecular identities. Using DNA microarrays, we can measure transcriptomes of organisms. Also RNA-seq is used to measure transcriptomes.

 

1. DNA microarray 

A DNA microarray is a collection of microscopic DNA spots attached to a solid surface. Scientists use DNA microarrays to measure the expression levels of large numbers of genes simultaneously or to genotype multiple regions of a genome.

 

2. RNA-seq 

RNA-seq, also called whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing (WTSS), usese next-generation sequencing (NGS) to reveal the presence and quantity of RNA in a biological sample at a given moment in time. RNA-seq is used to analyze the continually changing cellular transcriptome. Specifically, RNA-seq facilitates the ability to look at alternative gene spliced transcripts, post-transcriptional modifications, gene fusion, mutasions/SNPs and changes in gene expression. In addition to mRNA transcripts, RNA-seq can look at different populations of RNA to include total RNA, small RNA, such as miRNA, tRNA, and ribosomal profiling. RNA-seq cna also be used to determine exon/intron boundaries and verify or amend previously annotated 5' and 3' gene boundaries.