The present invention provides methods of linking nucleic acids without
the use of restriction enzymes or any joining enzyme such as ligase. More
specifically, the present invention provides methods for cloning or
rearranging a double-stranded target DNA which is a PCR product into a
double-stranded vector DNA which is a PCR product, said DNAs being
amplified using primers that contain at least one ribonucleotide,
preferably at or near the respective 3' ends of the primers, such that
RNA-specific cleavage, preferably by RNAse A, will allow release of the
primers to create long matching 3'-sticky ends.