Fig. 3

a Figure represents the mean and standard deviation of the average ranking of single miRNAs and combinations of 2 and 3 miRNAs as well as mean of all miRNAs in each dataset. Each dot represents the average ranking in a single dataset. P values in post-hoc testing > = 0.05 were not shown in the figure. Lower mean ranking represents higher stability. b Figure represents the mean and standard deviation of rankings of single miRNAs and combinations of 2 and 3 miRNAs in each dataset. The lower the mean ranking the more suitable the reference candidate. c Figure represents the percent of 2-miRNA combinations that were less stable than all of their component miRNAs (red), were more stable than 1 component miRNA (yellow) and better than all of their component miRNAs (green). d Figure represents the percent of 3-miRNA combinations that were less stable than all of their component miRNAs (red), were more stable than 1 component miRNA (yellow), were more stable than 2 components (light yellow) and better than all of their component miRNAs (green)