Abstract:
A method of selecting nucleic acid samples from a plurality of nucleic acid samples based on desired alleles including the steps of performing a first reaction in a plurality of pools of the alleles to be identified to produce reaction products including a source tag identifying said each pool; pooling the pools to provide pooled pools; for each of the desired alleles to be identified, performing a second reaction using said reaction products to produce allele-specific second reaction products comprising a marker tag and a derived source tag; identifying said allele-specific second reaction products to select nucleic acid sample. In some embodiments, the first reaction may not be performed. A source tag sharing number “d” may be determined for each of the alleles. Alleles may be binned together.
Abstract:
A method of identifying attributes in a plurality of biological samples including the steps of determining a source tag sharing number “d” for each of the attributes; providing a plurality of pools for the source tag sharing number “d” wherein each pool comprising a pooled subset of biological samples; for each pool of the plurality of pools, producing at least one pooled pool comprising attribute-specific reaction products comprising a marker tag that uniquely identifies an attribute and a source tag identifying said pool; and identifying said attribute-specific reaction products to identify the attributes. If “d” is equal to or larger than a maximum pool size, the reaction products may not comprise a source tag identifying each pool. Attributes may be binned together.
Abstract:
The invention provides methods and processes for the identification of polymorphisms at one or more designated sites, without interference from non-designated sites located within proximity of such designated sites. Probes are provided capable of interrogation of such designated sites in order to determine the composition of each such designated site. By the methods of this invention, one or more mutations within the CFTR gene and the HLA gene complex can be identified.
Abstract:
Described are methods of assay design and assay image correction, useful for multiplexed genetic screening for mutations and polymorphisms, including CF-related mutants and polymorphs, using an array of probe pairs (in one aspect, where one member is complementary to a particular mutant or polymorphic allele and the other member is complementary to a corresponding wild type allele), with probes bound to encoded particles (e.g., beads) wherein the encoding allows identification of the attached probe. The methods relate to avoiding cross-hybridization by selection of probes and amplicons, as well as separation of reactions of certain probes and amplicons where a homology threshold is exceeded. Methods of correcting a fluorescent image using a background map, where the particles also contain an optical encoding system, are also disclosed.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of iteratively optimizing two (or more) interrelated sets of probes for the multi-step analysis of sets of designated sequences, each such sequence requiring, for conversion, at least one conversion probe (“primer”), and each converted sequence requiring, for detection, at least one capture probe. The iterative method disclosed herein for the concurrent optimization of primer and probe selection invokes fast logical string matching functions to perform a complete cross-correlation of probe sequences and target sequences. The score function assigns to each probe-target alignment a “degree of matching” score on the basis of position-weighted Hamming distance functions introduced herein. Pairs of probes in the final selection may differ in several positions, while other pairs of probes may differ in only a single position. Not all such positions are of equal importance, and a score function is introduced, reflecting the position of the mismatch within the probe sequence.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an analysis method useful in multiplexed hybridization-mediated analysis of polymorphisms, i.e., wherein a labeled nucleic acid of interest (“target”) interacts with two or more pairs of immobilized degenerate capture probes. In one embodiment, one member of each pair has a sequence that is complementary to the normal (“wild-type”) sequence in a designated location of the target, while the other member of each pair has a sequence that is complementary to an anticipated variant (“mutant” or “polymorph”) sequence in that location of the target. These methods permit selection of two or more probe pairs such that, for each pair of probes interacting with a given target strand, interaction of the target with a preferred member of the probe pair is optimized. Also interpreting results obtained by multiplexed hybridization of the target to two or more pairs of probes under conditions permitting competitive hybridization is disclosed.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for the manipulation of colloidal particles and biomolecules at the interface between an insulating electrode such as silicon oxide and an electrolyte solution. Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces relies on the combination of three functional elements: the AC electric field-induced assembly of planar aggregates; the patterning of the electrolyte/silicon oxide/silicon interface to exert spatial control over the assembly process; and the real-time control of the assembly process via external illumination. The present invention provides a set of fundamental operations enabling interactive control over the creation and placement of planar arrays of several types of particles and biomolecules and the manipulation of array shape and size. The present invention enables sample preparation and handling for diagnostic assays and biochemical analysis in an array format, and the functional integration of these operations. In addition, the present invention provides a procedure for the creation of material surfaces with desired properties and for the fabrication of surface-mounted optical components.
Abstract:
This invention provides compositions and methods for genetic testing of an organism and for correlating the results of the genetic testing with a unique marker that unambiguously identifies the organism. The markers may be internal markers, such as for example single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), short tandem repeats (STRs), or other sites within a genomic locus. Alternatively, the markers may be external, such that they are separately added to the genetic sample before testing.
Abstract:
Described are methods of assay design and assay image correction, useful for multiplexed genetic screening for mutations and polymorphisms, including CF-related mutants and polymorphs, using an array of probe pairs (in one aspect, where one member is complementary to a particular mutant or polymorphic allele and the other member is complementary to a corresponding wild type allele), with probes bound to encoded particles (e.g., beads) wherein the encoding allows identification of the attached probe. The methods relate to avoiding cross-hybridization by selection of probes and amplicons, as well as separation of reactions of certain probes and amplicons where a homology threshold is exceeded. Methods of correcting a fluorescent image using a background map, where the particles also contain an optical encoding system, are also disclosed.