I am sequencing with MiSeq loci I targeted with CRISPR-Cas9. I sometimes have many paired small primer reads (see pic attached), Can I conclude anything from them? They are definitely not random, I see more often at specific loci/in some samples. Can they be hint of large deletions?
2 answers
Primer dimers are an indication that the library prep could be optimized; there's either an abundance of primers (or scarcity of PCR-able fragments of interest) or too many PCR cycles or all of it.
I don't think it would be appropriate to use them as evidence for anything related to your actual question of interest because they are quite frequently occurring artifacts.
Primer dimers don't tell you anything.
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