Hi,

I've recently started using Ensembl for help in designing a gene panel for NGS. 

Each time I select a gene on Ensembl it comes up with different available transcripts for that gene. 

What defines a transcript? Is it literally just a different version of the gene in different individuals (but if so, how come some of the transcripts appear to be so different in terms of bp length and amino acid number)

Any help in explaining would be most gratefully received!


A single gene can produce multiple different RNAs (i.e., transcripts). The actual transcript observed will depend on the tissue, developmental time point, and environmental/hormonal/etc. factors. Typically there's a single major transcript expressed in a given cell at a given time, but not always. For further details check out wikipedia.