Distribution of TPM counts across individual samples.

Maximum number of transcripts (N) identified in the C9, C12 and C35 data sets after processing FASTQ data files under identical conditions. A) A total of 12,059, 9,978 and 10,616 transcripts were found in every sample in the C9, C12 and C35 data sets, respectively. Further analysis identified meaningful numbers transcript counts as the number of samples per file was sequentially decreased to one. For example, in the C35 data set, 233 lncRNA transcripts were found in only 1 of the 35 samples but the counts ranged from 3.5–613 with a mean of 55.9 ± 85.9 TPM counts. Transcripts within this count range clearly represent legitimate gene expression values and thereby may provide some indication of the sensitivity of the extraction process. (XLSX)