Cloning PCR Products: An Overview

A successful cloning of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-derived DNA fragment is a key step for further analysis of the amplified DNAs, though it is often a difficult task. Many cloning methods have been established; various commercial cloning kits are also available. These methods can be separated into two groups: ligation-dependent cloning and ligation-independent cloning. The former is used more widely than the latter. According to DNA ends, the existing ligation-dependent cloning methods for PCR products can be further divided into three types: blunt-end cloning, sticky-end cloning, and T-A cloning.