A Unique Molecular Identifier (UMI) is a short, random sequence of nucleotides added to each RNA molecule during sequencing to uniquely tag individual RNA transcripts. This tagging helps in distinguishing between true biological signals and artifacts caused by amplification during sequencing, leading to more accurate quantification of gene expression levels. UMIs enhance the sensitivity and precision of RNA-seq analysis, enabling researchers to identify rare transcripts and improve data reproducibility.
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