SMART (Switching Mechanism at 5' End of RNA Template) is a unique technology that allows the efficient incorporation of known sequences at both ends of cDNA during first-strand synthesis, without adapter ligation. The presence of these known sequences is crucial for a number of downstream applications, including amplification, RACE, and library construction. While a wide variety of technologies can be employed to take advantage of these known sequences, the simplicity and efficiency of SMART technology permits unparalleled sensitivity and ensures that full-length cDNA is generated and amplified.