AN INEXPENSIVE METHOD FOR THE RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIFIC CDNAS FROM CDNA LIBRARIES

The identification of specific cDNAs by screening filters impregnated with DNA from phage or bacterial colonies is a time-consuming and expe nsive undertaking. We have developed a rapid and inexpensive method fo r identifying specific cDNAs that involves hybridization of cDNAs to s pecific oligonucleotides bound to nylon filters. Using this method we have identified specific cDNAs for a human B-cell growth factor from d ifferent cDNA libraries. The total processing time was 3 days, and 30% of the cDNAs selected by this method were correct.