A search process (e.g., for a new pharmaceutical) that first involves the construciton of a large “pool” of polynucleotide sequences (at least some of which are likely to possess the desired pharmaceutical properties), synthesized by a totally random process. This is followed by repeated cycles of screening (for those sequences possessing desired properties) and/or enriching, and amplification (of the screened/enriched sequences). Common amplification techniques include Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Ligase Chain Reaction (LCR), Self-sustained Sequence Replication (SSR), Q-beta Replicase Technique, and Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA).