Can I run q RT real-time PCR based on cDNA amount? - (Dec/18/2007 )

Because my start materials are very low, my isolated RNA concentration is very low. Somehow, it is lower than the detectable level of nanodrop. Can I do the real time PCR based on the amount of cDNA? I tested the cDNA concentration by nanodrop as ssDNA. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Susan

depending on how much material you have, you could always try to run a RT pcr before doing any real time, and see if there is a band.
real time is a lot more sensitive than RT PCR, and can detect up to (so they say) 1 copy (never tested this out though).
could you have concentrated the RNA, or was the total amount too low?
how much RNA did you start with?

V