Significance of giving read group when using hisat2

Question

[Apprentice]

I am doing RNA-seq data analysis using hisat2 and stringTie. The purpose of my study is to search for genes that are differentially expressed between groups.

I have heard that hisat2 can add a read group by using the -rg option. I have not used the -rg option so far and have not experienced any problems. So I would like to ask, what is the significance of implementing -rg in hisat2? Would there be any inconvenience in performing a differential gene expression analysis without it? I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me.

Answer 1

[ATpoint]

You do not need read groups for this at all. RGs are required by some tools, especially in the context of variant calling.

[Apprentice]

Thank you for your advice! I'm relived.