Abstract：Start codon targeted polymorphism (SCoT) is a single primer gene targeted marker technique, and the primers are designed according to conservative areas from the flanking of translation initiation site (ATG). After the first pioneer successfully applied this technique to analyze the gene differential expression in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), cDNA-SCoT has been applied in many kinds of plants, such as peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), corn (Zea mays), Dendrobium officinale, mango (Mangifera indica), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), etc. In this article, the principle, methods of designed primers and the characteristics of cDNA-SCoT were introduced. Then, the screening and optimization of cDNA-SCoT PCR system, as well as its application in disease resistance, cold resistance, drought resistance, genetic evolution, etc, were emphatically summarized. This article provides a new technology of gene differential expression, which can be used as an effective complement to other technologies, and a reference for researchers to choose different technologies when they analyze gene differential expression.
