We compared RNA sequences from human B cells of 27 individuals to the corresponding DNA sequences from the same individuals and uncovered more than 10,000 exonic sites where the RNA sequences do not match that of the DNA. These differences were nonrandom as many sites were found in multiple individuals and in different cell types, including primary skin cells and brain tissues. These widespread RNA-DNA differences in the human transcriptome provide a yet unexplored aspect of genome variation.”
We regularly talk about errors in replication, much less so about errors in transcription. This is indeed an unexplored aspect of genome variation. Furthermore, we have no easy way to visualize errors in translation, either. Right now, so many of our tools look en-masse and only see averages. With advances in single-cell techniques, might we start seeing individual molecules and understand the effect of chance and variability in life? I hope so, don’t you?
