A "strand-specific" library is constructed by PCR amplification using only one strand of cDNA reverse-transcribed from RNA as the template. In contrast, a conventional transcriptome library uses both strands of cDNA for PCR amplification. As a result, a conventional transcriptome library cannot distinguish RNA polarity, while a "strand-specific" library can effectively distinguish RNA polarity. This is the key difference between the two types of libraries.
Advantages:
1. More accurate quantification of transcript expression levels. 2. More accurate detection of alternative splicing events. 3. Increased detection rate of non-coding transcripts and discovery of potential cis-natural antisense transcripts. 4. Better prediction of prokaryotic operons. 5. More efficient and accurate transcript assembly.
