This article is about the molecular biology technique, for alternate meanings, see RACE

RACE, 5' RACE or Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends, is a molecular biology technique used to amplify the 5' ends of cDNA by a special PCR reaction. In particular, it is used to clone 5' UTR fragments of specific cDNA, which are usually missed by regular cloning techniques. In order to conduct a RACE amplification, the sequence of a part of the cDNA of interest has to be known.

RACE-PCR requires a first round of cDNA extension by the enzyme terminal transferase, which adds a homopolymeric tail to the 5' end of all template cDNAs. A PCR reaction is then carried out, which uses a general sense primer that binds to the new 5' tail and a specific antisense primer that binds to the known cDNA sequence.

Source: "Rapid amplification of 5' cDNA ends," in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (eds. Sambrook, J. & Russell, D.W.) Chapter 8 Protocol 9, 8.54−8.60 (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA, 2001)

RACE-PCR