How does the RT-PCR tell you if a gene is expressed in a particular cell type?
Gene expression in cells is regulated by the turnover of gene transcripts (single stranded RNA). The amount of an expressed gene can be measured by the number of copies of the RNA transcript of that gene present in a sample. In RTPCR, the RNA sample is first reverse-transcribed to complementary DNA with the help of reverse transcriptase. In RTPCR, the most common methods are aimed at quantifying the specific gene of interest in relation to another gene called a normalizing gene that is selected for its almost constant level of expression. These genes are selected from housekeeping genes. This enables us to calculate the ratio for the expression of the genes of interest divided by the expression of the selected normalizer. By this way, we can measure its absolute level of expression.
Get Answers For Free
Most questions answered within 1 hours.