Total RNA was isolated from young etiolated oil palm seedlings, leaves and inflorescences at different stages of development. The mRNA was subsequently extracted by oligo-dT cellulose chromatography and in vitro translated using a rabbit reticulocyte system. The translated products were examined by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis as well as a combination of SDS-PAGE and isoelectric focusing (two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Both methods revealed differences in banding pattern between the inflorescence (flower) and vegetative (leaf and young etiolated seedlings) tissues, indicating differential gene expression. Some changes were also observed in the pattern of in vitro translation products for mRNA extracted from the different stages of flowering.