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
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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 ...

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