Self-digitization microfluidic chip for absolute quantification of mRNA in single cells.

ABSTRACT: Quantification of mRNA in single cells provides direct insight into how intercellular heterogeneity plays a role in disease progression and outcomes. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), the current gold standard for evaluating gene expression, is insufficient for providing absolute measurement of single-cell mRNA transcript abundance. Challenges include difficulties in handling small sample volumes and the high variability in measurements. Microfluidic digital PCR provides far better sensitivity for minute quantities of genetic material, but the typical format of this assay does not allow for counting of the absolute number of mRNA transcripts samples taken from single cells. Furthermore, a large fraction of the sample is often lost during sample handling in microfluidic digital

SUBMITTER: Thompson AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4270397 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature