With the increasing number of hereditary diseases and gene related illnesses, scientists have buried themselves in research and experiments to try and comprehend them. This science of genetics includes full analysis of the genetic markers, proteins and alignment of genes in individuals. Among the things studied is the RNA. However, RNA is not as long lived as the DNA as it is subject to degradation by the RNases enzymes. It was therefore important that scientists develop a way of total RNA extraction that realizes viable RNA samples for study and analysis. 



If you are looking for a quality supplier of total RNA then visit the website here. 
 
Importance of Total RNA extraction. 
 
The RNA plays a crucial role in gene manifestation and expression, and thus the comprehension of most of the biological processes. Total RNA comprises of both mRNA and miRNA. The former spells out what the manifestation of the gene will be like, and the miRNA is responsible for silencing such. The miRNA is responsible for causing many genetic diseases including Huntington's Disease and Myotonic Dystrophy. RNA analysis is therefore crucial if scientists are to study these disorders and find corrections to them. 
 
Total RNA extraction is therefore necessary in molecular experiments like digital PCR, array analysis and RNA sequencing. Extracted RNA reveals crucial information about gene structure, processes and interaction. They also reveal behavioral outcomes of specific cells when subjected to certain conditions and environments. 
 
How to perform the RNA extraction. 
 
Since the RNA have very short life spans compared to DNA, it would be wise to firstly paralyze the degrading enzymes but carefully not to damage the RNA. This is achieved using RNase inhibitors. There are several ways of total RNA extraction, each of which realizes a different composition and distribution of RNA. 
 
#1. Direct Lysis 
 
This non-purification technique requires addition of a lysis chemical to the sample and leaving the sample for a while so that the nucleic acids can stabilize. Downstream analysis is then performed to collect the RNA sample. This method is both fast and efficient even for small samples. 
 
#2. Organic Method
 
This is the basic and the standard method. It requires homogenization of the collected sample in a phenol based solution and then centrifuging it. The aqueous sample differentiates into three layers, only the top most layer is selected as it is the one that contains the RNA. A precipitation and dehydration using alcohol yields a proper RNA extract for study. This process is however laborious and uses potentially harmful chlorinated chemicals. 
 
#3. Spin basket way. 
 
This method is almost fully automated and requires lysis of the sample in guanidine salts, which are RNase inhibitors. This is followed by addition of other chemicals to precipitate the RNA extract after centrifugation into a tube through a membrane. This method however yields an extract that has large nucleic acids, which are not required. 
 
#4. Extraction using magnetic particles. 
 
This method involves introducing magnetic particles into an already lysed sample (using RNase inhibitors) and then applying a magnetic field. The particles have a shell that adheres required particles (the RNA molecules). Once the magnetic field is taken away, the precipitation can be washed and the magnetic particles easily removed. This realizes a RNA extract that is simple and fast in preparation.