| abstract |
Disclosed herein are novel methods, assays and systems for determining a given state of a cell or a tissue by detecting the presence or absence of a short RNA molecule originating from (a) at least one or more exons of at least one or more protein-coding genes, or from (b) at least one or more segments of at least one or more non-coding transcripts, or from (c) both (a) and (b), in a biological sample from a subject. In some embodiments, the methods, assays and systems described herein can be used to identify an origin and/or a type of a cell or tissue, and/or distinguish a cell or tissue from another cell or tissue. In some embodiments, the methods, assays and systems described herein can also be used to diagnose a disease or disorder, or prognose a given stage and/or progression of the disease or disorder in a subject. |