Transcript assembly reconstructs transcript sequences or exon paths from RNA-derived reads. It can use a reference genome or infer sequences directly from overlaps. Alternative splicing creates shared segments, so a set of individually supported exons does not necessarily determine which full-length combinations occur. Long reads can connect distant exons, but transcript completeness and sequence errors still require evaluation. [ref]
Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms by NHGRI. Transcriptome; Alternative Splicing entry
New to topics? Read the docs here!