Fig. 2

Algorithm based ranking of candidate reference genes. a – b BestKeeper based calculation of the coefficient of determination (r²) for groups 1 and 2 (neonates) or groups 1–3 (all). c Standard deviation and r² for groups 1 and 2 (preterm and full-term neonates) or groups 1–3 (all). d – f NormFinder based calculation of stability values for groups 1 and 2 (preterm and full-term neonates) or groups 1–3 (all). g – i GeNorm based calculation of stability values for groups 1 and 2 (preterm and full-term neonates) or groups 1–3 (all). j – k Overall ranking of candidate reference genes for groups 1 and 2 (preterm and full-term neonates) or groups 1–3 (all). l – m GeNorm based calculation of stability values for groups 1 and 2 (preterm and full-term neonates) after exclusion of RPLP0 from the analysis. n - o GeNorm based calculation of the number of reference genes needed to build a stable normalization factor for groups 1 and 2 (preterm and full-term neonates) or groups 1–3 (neonates and healthy adults). BK, BestKeeper; NF, NormFinder; GN, GeNorm