The phrase "a universal reference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that serves as a standard or common point of comparison across different contexts or subjects.
Example: "In the field of science, the periodic table is often considered a universal reference for understanding chemical elements."
Alternatives: "a common standard" or "a global benchmark".
So what constitutes a universal reference or idea?
Bissels U, Wild S, Tomiuk S, et al. Absolute quantification of microRNAs by using a universal reference.
To ensure worldwide uniformity in chlorinity and salinity determinations, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea prepared a universal reference, Eau de Mer Normale ("Standard Seawater"), in 1902.
A universal reference curve is obtained, where the dimensionless bottom shear stress, which is a modified Froude number, is plotted against the local Reynolds number based on particle size.
Gene expression profiles in dominant and subordinate animals were compared using a "universal" reference design [Churchill GA (2002) Fundamentals of experimental design for cDNA microarrays. Nat Genet 32 (Suppl):490 495].
Given this assumption, the notion of a universal reference frame is incoherent.
Finally, the proposed ratio difference between platforms using an universal reference sample (as also indicated in [ 25]) can serve as a measure for interplatform correspondence per individual gene.
This Cy3-labelled aRNA was served as an universal reference (see below) to provide consistent slide-to-slide and experiment-to-experiment comparability.
Results of this study show that a reference sample (vRNA) derived from the parental EST clone vector of all clones printed on an array provides a useful universal reference that can be used for quality control of microarray printing and PCR product quality, detection of hybridization anomalies, and simplification of spot finding and segmentation tasks.
A human universal reference RNA (Stratagene, USA) was used as a calibrator.
Results of this study show that vRNA provides a useful universal reference that yields high signal for almost all spots on a microarray, reduces variation and allows for comparisons between experiments and laboratories.
