Getting The Message With RT-PCR

Date: July 20, 1998RT-PCR Kits Reverse transcription followed by the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has become one of the great "workhorse" techniques of today's labs. It is often used as a method for generating needed reagents, including complementary DNA (cDNA) inserts for cloning, cDNA libraries, and templates for in vitro transcription. None of the other commonly used methods for measuring the steady-state levels of individual RNAs (such as Northern or dot blotting, RNase or S1 nuclease

Written byDeborah Wilkinson
| 12 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
12:00
Share

Date: July 20, 1998RT-PCR Kits
Reverse transcription followed by the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has become one of the great "workhorse" techniques of today's labs. It is often used as a method for generating needed reagents, including complementary DNA (cDNA) inserts for cloning, cDNA libraries, and templates for in vitro transcription. None of the other commonly used methods for measuring the steady-state levels of individual RNAs (such as Northern or dot blotting, RNase or S1 nuclease protection assays, and in situ hybridization) come close to matching RT-PCR's sensitivity. Because of this, RT-PCR is widely used to characterize messenger RNA (mRNA) expression patterns and to compare the relative levels of mRNAs in different sample populations. When optimally performed, RT-PCR can be used to detect transcripts produced at very low levels and can identify RNAs in minute quantities of starting material.

Figure 1: PCR Amplification Of cDNA Synthesized With Advantage RT-For-PCR Kits ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

Published In

Share
Image of a man in a laboratory looking frustrated with his failed experiment.
February 2026

A Stubborn Gene, a Failed Experiment, and a New Path

When experiments refuse to cooperate, you try again and again. For Rafael Najmanovich, the setbacks ultimately pushed him in a new direction.

View this Issue
Human-Relevant In Vitro Models Enable Predictive Drug Discovery

Advancing Drug Discovery with Complex Human In Vitro Models

Stemcell Technologies
Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Beckman Coulter Logo
Conceptual multicolored vector image of cancer research, depicting various biomedical approaches to cancer therapy

Maximizing Cancer Research Model Systems

bioxcell

Products

Sino Biological Logo

Sino Biological Pioneers Life Sciences Innovation with High-Quality Bioreagents on Inside Business Today with Bill and Guiliana Rancic

Sino Biological Logo

Sino Biological Expands Research Reagent Portfolio to Support Global Nipah Virus Vaccine and Diagnostic Development

Beckman Coulter

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Partners with Automata to Accelerate AI-Ready Laboratory Automation

Refeyn logo

Refeyn named in the Sunday Times 100 Tech list of the UK’s fastest-growing technology companies