19 How reliable is the data?
It’s always important to consider experimental uncertainties.
You will have seen some variability in the Ct values when repeating runs on the same samples. Can you think of any reasons for this?
Answer
There were various processes used before setting up a PCR reaction that might give rise to variability in the data such as measuring DNA concentrations and inaccuracies in using micropipettes.
Might these factors affect your data and might they therefore affect how it is interpreted?
Answer
It is very unlikely that the interpretation of the experimental values in these specific PCR tests would be affected by the inaccuracies introduced into the samples being tested. A particular DNA sample would have to have had half or double the amount of DNA added for any one result to have been influenced to the extent that you had obtained the incorrect estimate of gene copy number or *4 variant copy number. The inaccuracy introduced at various experimental stages leading up to the PCR reaction would not have introduced such a level of error.
18 Population differences