Currently my study is to identify SNPs in obese adults with iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia. Total sample i must collect is 140 (70 control, 70 cases). I have sufficient number for control sample. However, for 1 year and half i only manage to get 12 samples for cases which is very low number. I have limited time as we need to complete the study. In your opinion, should i do biological replicate or technical replicate for the cases samples? in order to increase the number. Or there is another solution?
How did you arrive at the number of 70 cases and 70 controls? You could wait longer for more cases, you could find a way to increase the rate that you find cases (could you contact more hospitals / clinicians to ask them to refer patients who meet these criteria?) or you could proceed with the 12 you already have.
These 12 cases and 70 controls are biological replicates; the only way to do more biological replication is to find additional cases. Technical replication will not increase the number of samples in a useful or scientifically valid way.
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