What is it about?
Finding genes which are expressed at a stable level is challenging when making comparisons across large developmental windows. We found a method for normalization in the sheep heart across the periods of late gestation, neonatal life, and into adulthood.
Why is this important?
Normalization of gene expression to stable reference genes in an experimental context gives confidence that the changes seen in experimental genes are real. During development, the changes are so broad that typically stable genes also change. In fact, we found that global transcription of mRNA changed in this period as well.