Total RNA isolation is a lab technique that extracts all cellular RNA from a tissue sample, producing more pure and usable information. Techniques involve a variety of chemicals, and labs select a specific protocol for consistency. Researchers can conduct their own isolation or outsource it, and should discuss the method used in scientific articles.
Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) isolation is a laboratory technique used to extract all cellular RNA from a tissue sample. This differs from other processing methods which selectively extract certain types of RNA. A researcher might, for example, want to inspect messenger RNA (mRNA) and work with a sample to extract just this genetic material. A number of laboratory protocols for total RNA isolation are available, using a variety of products made by scientific suppliers.
There may be a number of advantages to collecting all cellular RNA from a tissue sample. It can produce more pure and usable information. The technique may also allow researchers to test for degradation that could cause problems with experiments. If the sample is of poor quality, the researcher can re-extract the RNA to obtain a cleaner and more useful collection of RNA. This can be important for many types of research, where poor RNA early on causes problems with experiments later.
Techniques for total RNA isolation can involve a variety of chemicals. Some focus on using non-toxic chemicals to reduce the risk of damage to the sample. Such chemicals also limit downstream RNA pollution and are safer for laboratory workers. Laboratories tend to select a specific chemical and protocol to recommend to all personnel and include a detailed description of the total RNA isolation procedure in their manuals. This ensures consistency in RNA processing at your facility for more stable and useful results.
The process begins with preparing a tissue sample, which can vary in size, to prepare it for processing such as chemical reagents to extract total RNA. Technicians consult the lab manual to determine how to handle the sample and process it to isolate RNA. They may use tools such as electrophoresis plates to check the quality of the sample, looking for signs of degradation that could indicate a problem with the total RNA isolation process.
Researchers can conduct their own total RNA isolation or delegate this task to a lab assistant, graduate student, or similar lab worker. It is also possible to outsource isolation to other laboratory facilities. Sometimes this may be necessary to protect the integrity of an experiment by using a third party to generate verifiable and repeatable results. In any scientific article based on research with isolated RNA, the researcher should discuss the method used for the isolation and who performed the work.
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