The invention relates to a detection system comprising: a) a support (components (a) and (b)), at least one detection unit (component (b)), preferably a nucleic acid, bonded to the support, wherein said detection unit (component (b)) includes a region (A) having a constant structure and a region (B) adjacent to region (A) having a variable structure. The invention also relates to a method for separating individual components in a sample, wherein at least one detection unit (component (b)) that is bonded to the support is bonded to at least one component of the sample under appropriate conditions. The invention further relates to the utilization of the inventive detection system and method for locating and/or identifying or characterizing nucleic acids and/or proteins in a sample or for locating and/or identifying cellular or artificial binding partners.