How to find the right RNA AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in RNA
- Integrity (RIN or RQN)
- RIN of at least 7 for qPCR; RNA-seq commonly asks for 8 or higher Degraded RNA biases quantification toward the 3' end and reduces library complexity.
- Purity ratios
- A260/280 near 2.0 and A260/230 near 2.0 (above about 1.8) Low ratios indicate protein, phenol, guanidine or carbohydrate carryover, which inhibits reverse transcription.
- Genomic DNA removal
- Should be DNase-treated, or plan a DNase step and a no-RT control Contaminating gDNA gives false-positive signal in RT-qPCR.
- Source documentation
- Tissue, species, donor details (age, sex, pooled or single) and the isolation method should be stated Expression varies strongly with tissue, donor and method.
- Storage and shipping
- Ship on dry ice; store at -80 °C in single-use aliquots RNA degrades with RNases, heat and repeated freeze-thaw.
Brands that matter
- Takara Bio: Long-standing source of human and mouse tissue total RNA and poly-A RNA.
- BioChain Institute: Wide range of tissue total RNA, including disease and fetal tissues.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Invitrogen/Ambion): Reference RNAs, RNA handling reagents and RNase-free consumables.
- Agilent: Reference RNA and the instruments used to measure RIN.
What to avoid
- RNA with no integrity data reported
- Samples not shipped on dry ice
- Dissolving RNA in non-RNase-free water
- Repeated thawing of the master tube
Questions
Is a good A260/280 enough?
No. Purity ratios do not show degradation. You also need an integrity measure such as RIN or a gel showing sharp ribosomal bands.