RT-PCR · Pathology

In RT-qPCR, what is the significance of the 'no-reverse transcriptase' (no-RT) control?

  1. To check for the presence of Taq polymerase inhibitors
  2. To identify contamination from genomic DNA
  3. To ensure that the primers are working correctly
  4. To measure the rate of RNA degradation
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Correct answer: To identify contamination from genomic DNA

If a signal is detected in a control that lacks the reverse transcriptase enzyme, it indicates that the amplification is coming from contaminating genomic DNA rather than the cDNA. This control is vital for validating that the assay is specific to RNA.

Difficulty: Medium Question 16 of 20

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