Conventional PCR has revolutionized the detection and analysis of nucleic acids. However, one of its major limitations has been the inability to accurately quantitate the amount of product, which reflects the amount of starting material, due to differing plateau effects among multiple samples. The need to accurately determine quantitative changes in gene expression has led to the adoption of real-time RT-PCR as the method of choice not only for quantitative gene expression but also for validating results obtained from array analyses and other techniques that evaluate gene expression changes on a global scale.

This lecture/laboratory course is intended for those who have a fundamental background in PCR and will address the basic chemistries of real time PCR and the many platforms available.