Abstract: Synthetic oligonucleotides of 17 or more consecutive nucleotides of the 49 bases of formula (A) to be used as molecular probes for sexing the embryos or foetuses of ruminant mammals or as molecular probes for detecting a Y chromosome in a spermatozoid population of ruminant mammals of the Bos genus and their use in process of amplification and hybridization assays.

Abstract: A method for a high-sensitivity quantitative analysis of bile acid in a bile acid-containing sample utilizes a reagent comprising:(1) a steroid dehydrogenase which is capable of effecting a reversible reaction producing oxobile acid using bile acid, as a substrate, and a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate compound (hereinafter referred to as an NADP compound) or a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide compound (hereinafter referred to as an NAD compound) as coenzyme;(2) a compound A.sub.1 selected from the group consisting of NADP compounds and NAD compounds, in an amount surplus relative to the amount of bile acid;(3)(i) compound B.sub.1 selected from the group consisting of a reduced NAD compound and a reduced NADP compound, compound B.sub.1 being a reduced NAD compound, when A.sub.1 is an NADP compound, and a reduced NADP compound, when A.sub.1 is an NAD compound, or(ii) a compound B.sub.2 which is an oxidized product of B.sub.1, or(iii) a mixture of B.sub.1 and B.sub.2, where the amount of B.sub.

Abstract: Methods and compounds for the preparation of nucleic acid samples. Polymerase inhibitors are treated so as to allow for amplification of nucleic acid from biological sources, including whole blood.