Abstract: A chemical reaction device is provided for a chemical reaction between molecules immobilized on a solid phase and molecules in a solution, and a chemical analysis device is also provided to capture molecules in the solution by molecules immobilized on the solid phase through a chemical reaction and subsequent measurement of the captured molecules. Reaction efficiency as well as sample throughput are thereby improved. The chemical reaction device and the chemical analysis device use a channel of a microfluidic device for a reaction vessel, and at least a particular molecule is immobilized on an interior surface and a fixed structure or a non-fixed obstacle against a flow is provided in the channel.

Abstract: There is used at least one probe array obtained by arraying particles having various probes, respectively, fixed thereon (probe particles) in a definite order in a holder. A plurality of capillaries or grooves packed with various kinds, respectively, of probe particles are arrayed in parallel, and one of particles contained in each capillary or groove is injected into another capillary or groove to produce a probe array in which the various kinds of probe particles are arrayed in a constant and definite order. Various fluorophore-labeled DNA's are measured at the same time by attaching various probes to particles, respectively, of different sizes. A probe array composed of various fixed DNA probes can easily be produced, and there can be provided a probe array for detecting various DNA's which is composed of various fixed arbitrary DNA probes.

Abstract: A method for examining nucleotide sequences of a sample includes adding a group of primers of multiple species to a solution containing the sample and simultaneously synthesizing complementary strands at each of the multiple regions containing the nucleotide sequences; designing the DNA probes with specific sequences elongate the complementary strands by the presence or absence of mutations in the nucleotide sequences, wherein the same number of such DNA probes and the nucleotide sequences are used for complementary strand synthesis; using the nucleotide sequences or their complementary sequences as a template to convert pyrophosphate produced during the elongation reaction to ATP which then reacts with chemiluminescent substrates to develop luminescence to be detected. According to the method, sensitivity is greatly increased by amplification of the amount of pyrophosphate produced in synthesis of the complementary strands without amplifying the copies of nucleotide sequences.

Abstract: There is provided means for analyzing organism-related molecules, dealing with multi item analysis, that are captured according to probe species, and for collecting according to the probe species. A magnetic micro-particle array is fixed with magnets that are configured with magnetic micro-particles in a capillary and with an array of glass beads to which DNA probes of different types from each other are immobilized. A syringe pump and a cross valve are operated to circulate a sample solution in the magnetic micro-particle array, which is reacted with probe DNAs on a glass bead with a probe. Subsequently, a washing solution is introduced to wash inside of the capillary. Next, respective beads are measured for fluorescence intensities. Furthermore a particular bead is collected based on results of fluorescence measurement. Target molecules captured on a surface of the collected bead may be separated by heat-denaturation, which then may be subjected to next analysis.

Abstract: There is used at least one probe array obtained by arraying particles having various probes, respectively, fixed thereon (probe particles) in a definite order in a holder. A plurality of capillaries or grooves packed with various kinds, respectively, of probe particles are arrayed in parallel, and one of particles contained in each capillary or groove is injected into another capillary or groove to produce a probe array in which the various kinds of probe particles are arrayed in a constant and definite order. Various fluorophore-labeled DNA's are measured at the same time by attaching various probes to particles, respectively, of different sizes. A probe array composed of various fixed DNA probes can easily be produced, and there can be provided a probe array for detecting various DNA's which is composed of various fixed arbitrary DNA probes.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator of the invention has a centrifugal rotor (10-1), with symmetric rotation axes, having single sample separation chamber in it for centrifuging samples contained in sample solutions, an upper opening passing through to said sample separation chamber in the upper part, members of frameworks capable of being coupled to said upper opening, a rotation driving means, assuming that the direction of said symmetric rotation axis is the first direction, for driving said centrifugal rotor around said rotation axis in the first direction, wherein assuming that two directions intersecting with said first direction are the second and third directions, the length of said sample preparation chamber in said third direction is longer than the length of said sample preparation chamber in said second direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel kit for detecting nucleic acid that can be universally used independent of the target nucleic acid sequence, and a simple method for detecting nucleic acid utilizing the same. This method comprises: subjecting a gene to be analyzed to real-time detection using a primer comprising a base sequence specifically hybridizing to the target gene or nucleic acid and the TaqMan® probe or the Molecular Beacon comprising a base sequence identical or complementary to the first base sequence, wherein the gene to be analyzed is prepared by introducing the first base sequence and the second base sequence comprising the T7 promoter sequence, which are nonspecific to the base sequence of the target gene or nucleic acid, into the target gene or nucleic acid so that the second base sequence is bound to a position closer to the 5′ end than the first base sequence. This invention also provides a universal probe for detecting nucleic acid.

Abstract: In the batch process of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, a sample loss cannot be negligible, but devices according to the prior art aiming at reduction in sample loss cannot help consuming a long period of time in the reaction process. In the present invention, a chemical substance is fixed and a buffer solution is filled in a round-shaped reaction element. A given volume of air is sucked in through an air inlet and a sample solution is sucked in. In addition, a given volume of air is sucked in. Air and the sample solution, is transported sequentially into the reaction element in that order. The reaction element is filled with the sample solution, which is placed between two air layers to prevent it from mixing with the buffer solution. The sample solution between two air layers reciprocates at a given velocity of flow in the reaction element, accelerating high efficiency chemical reactions.

Abstract: Different probes each having a specific base sequence are immobilized to each of independent areas formed on the surface of a substrate, complementary polynucleotides in a sample solution are hybridized to the probes, and each of the independent areas on the substrate is heated and then cooled in sequence, and hence the solution is recovered to extract different polynucleotides separately corresponding to individual probes.

Abstract: Adenylation of a DNA fragment with a DNA polymerase occurs in the course of PCR, and thus two peaks are detected. To prevent the peak splitting, it is necessary to raise efficiency of adenylation a single peak to occur without changing reaction conditions. To this end, four types of PCR primers which, respectively, have an anchor sequence at 5′ terminus so that any of A, C, G or T is attached to at the 5′ terminus of the anchor sequence, and PCR is carried out by use of the respective primers to determine efficiencies of adenylation. Subsequently, an anchor sequence that is more likely to undergo adenylation is screened to decide an anchor sequence more likely undergo adenylation, followed by PCR by use of a primer having the decided anchor sequence.

Abstract: To provide a method and an apparatus for detecting DNA mutation without using electrophoresis, the presence or absence of specific sequence is detected by a method comprising a step of serially hybridizing a 5-base-long to 8-base-long short oligomer 6, which is capable of being engaged in the complementary strand extension reaction, and a long oligomer 61, which is capable of hybridizing with a target DNA but incapable of being engaged in the complementary strand extension reaction, with the target DNA 63; a step of carrying out the complementary strand extension reaction 66 starting from the short primer using four kinds of nucleic acid substrates and polymerase; and a step of detecting photo-emission, in which pyrophosphate 68 produced as a reaction by-product of the complementary strand extension reaction is converted into ATP and the photo-emission reaction is carried out using an enzyme.

Abstract: The invention provides a solution mixing method by moving relatively at least one DNA array to which probes are fixed to a moving plate with a solution entertained therebetween, while the solution contains a substance of interest which is intended to react with the probes. Such a method can be implemented by an apparatus including a substrate holding plate with at least on substrate and a moving plate (moving along a straight line or revolving), an apparatus including a spinning compartment for spinning about a central axis and a holding plate for holding probes on its surface when being spun along the spinning compartment.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel kit for gene expression analysis that can be universally used independent of the target nucleic acid sequence, and a simple method for gene expression analysis utilizing the same. This method comprises: subjecting a gene to be analyzed to real-time PCR detection using a primer comprising a base sequence specifically hybridizing to the target gene, a primer comprising a base sequence identical to the second base sequence, and the TaqMan® probe comprising a base sequence identical or complementary to the first base sequence, wherein the gene to be analyzed is prepared by introducing the first base sequence and the second base sequence, which are nonspecific to the base sequence of the target gene, into the target gene so that the second base sequence is bound to a position closer to the 5′ end than the first base sequence.

Abstract: An electrophoresis chip is provided, which facilitates injection of a very small quantity of samples. A hydrophobic region 62, a thin and long hydrophilic region, electrodes 67a and 67b are formed on a surface of a substrate 61. The hydrophilic region, and the electrodes are surrounded with the hydrophobic region 62. A gel 64 is formed in the hydrophilic region by dropping and superposing gel precursor solution. A slit 65 for sample addition is provided in the midway of the gel. A droplet 72 of sample solution is adhered to a tip of a needle 71 and, when the droplet is passed through the slit 65 in contact with the hydrophobic region 62, the droplet of the needle connects the gel 64 in such a way as to bury the slit 65 of the gel 64. Then, electrophoresis is carried out by applying electric fields to the electrodes 67a and 67b.

Abstract: Different probes each having a specific base sequence are immobilized to each of independent areas formed on the surface of a substrate, complementary polynucleotides in a sample solution are hybridized to the probes, and each of the independent areas on the substrate is heated and then cooled in sequence, and hence the solution is recovered to extract different polynucleotides separately corresponding to individual probes.

Abstract: A small sized, cost-effective genetic testing apparatus that provides high sensitivity testing, for performing genetic testing simply and at low cost. An optical sensor array for the apparatus and method for luminometric assay comprises a means that simultaneously selects 2 pixels and detects minute amounts of chemiluminescence by obtaining the differential output of the respective signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a quick and simple method for genetic testing, particularly for SNP testing, using two kinds of primers which are complementary to a mutant target and a wild-type target, respectively, and different in length or migration speed in electrophoresis. These probes are allowed to hybridize with targets, fluorophore-tagged nucleotides are attached to the primers, and electrophoresis is carried out for discriminatory detection.

Abstract: There are provided a novel method and technology for arraying micro-particles. Micro-particle trapping capillaries each having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of probe-immobilized micro-particles are prepared. By vacuuming the inside of each micro-particle trapping capillary, only one of the micro-particles is vacuumed onto an opening at the tip thereof and taken out from holders holding a plurality of the micro-particles. The micro-particle vacuumed onto the opening at the tip of each micro-particle trapping capillary is positioned at the opening of the capillary or the edge of each channel provided in a chip, the channels each having an inlet and an outlet with a slightly larger width than the outer diameter of the micro-particle so as to allow passage of only one micro-particle. The micro-particle vacuumed onto the opening at the capillary tip is injected into the capillary from the opening of the capillary or the channel edge of the chip.

Abstract: To provide a method and an apparatus for detecting DNA mutation without using electrophoresis, the presence or absence of specific sequence is detected by a method comprising a step of serially hybridizing a 5-base-long to 8-base-long short oligomer 6, which is capable of being engaged in the complementary strand extension reaction, and a long oligomer 61, which is capable of hybridizing with a target DNA but incapable of being engaged in the complementary strand extension reaction, with the target DNA 63; a step of carrying out the complementary strand extension reaction 66 starting from the short primer using four kinds of nucleic acid substrates and polymerase; and a step of detecting photo-emission, in which pyrophosphate 68 produced as a reaction by-product of the complementary strand extension reaction is converted into ATP and the photo-emission reaction is carried out using an enzyme.

Abstract: An effective method for examining nucleotide sequences of a sample having multiple test sites based on a method using chemiluminescence, which comprises a step in which a group of primer 1 consisting of multiple primer species is added to a solution containing a sample 2 subjected to examination, and simultaneous synthesis of complementary strands is performed at each of the multiple regions containing target nucleotide sequences to be examined; a step in which the DNA probes with specific sequences are designed so that elongation of complementary strands is affected by the presence or absence of mutations in the target nucleotide sequences wherein the same number of such DNA probes and the target sequences is used for complementary strand synthesis, 5-1 and 5-2; a step in which the elongation reaction of complementary strands using the targets or the sequence complementary to the targets as a template and the following reaction where pyrophosphate produced during the elongation reaction is converted to ATP a