What is the basic principle behind RNA-Seq technology?

RNA-seq technology is a quantitative technique used to determine the quantity and sequencing of RNA. With this technology, it is possible to calculate the absolute quantity of every molecule in a given cell population, and then directly compare results between experiments. RNA-seq technology uses NGS, and is able to analyze the transcriptome, indicating which genes encoded in DNA are turned on or off. A population of RNA is converted to a library of cDNA fragments by the utilization of adaptors attached to one or both ends and mapped against a reference genome. This technology allows researchers to detect both novel and known characteristics in a single assay. In addition to transcriptome profiling, it can be used to identify gene fusions, detect mutations, study gene expressions, and ribosomal profiling.