Analysis of variance components reveals the contribution of sample processing to transcript variation

A fast, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR)-based hierarchical experimental design is used to determine the biological and technical variation between fermentation in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger batch fermentations by optimization of protocols and procedures. The results confirmed the hypothesis that the D-xylose signal is interpreted by the fungus as the availability of a multitude of complex polysaccharides and provides improved method for the generation of high-quality qPCR and microarray data from fermentation of the filamentous fungus Aspergilluss niger.