The invention provides a series of
reagent compositions and methods for making and amplifying novel cDNA based probe sets from
RNA samples to improve analysis with
gene expression arrays. The methods globally produce probe sets with common universal linkers at one or both ends, called WRAP-Probes, wherein the linkers do not bind to the target sequences and they can efficiently bind added reporters to the probes. The universal linkers are also designed as primer binding sites for
copying and amplifying the probes, either linearly with one
linker, or exponentially with double linkers. The capacity to globally and exponentially amplify the probe set by PCR is a primary
advantage. Adding reporters by terminal linkers also improves quantification since each probe gets equivalent signaling. The invention allows
expression analysis of small research, clinical and forensic samples to enable improved diagnostics,
drug discovery,
therapeutic monitoring, and medical, agricultural and general research.