Construction of cDNA libraries from limiting amounts of material

The use of cDNA libraries has become increasingly widespread as new techniques for library construction and analysis have become available. In recent years, interest in cell-type or stage-specific gene expression has necessitated the construction of cDNA libraries from very small numbers of cells. Recent advances in techniques of RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, library construction, and the use of the polymerase chain reaction have made this a realistic goal.