Power and limitations of RNA-Seq: findings from the SEQC (MAQC-III) Consortium

Abstract

We present a multi-centre cross-platform study of the US-FDA MAQC/SEQC-consortium, introducing a landmark RNA-Seq reference dataset comprising 30 billion reads. The study design features known mixtures, high-dynamic range ERCC-spikes, and a nested replication structure which are critical for the development and validation of novel or improved algorithms and data processing pipelines, as none of the examined technologies can provide a ‘gold standard’.