Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices for performing PCR and monitoring the reaction of a sample comprising a nucleic acid and a fluorescent dye. Illustrative devices comprise a heat exchange component for heating and cooling the sample, a control device for repeatedly operating the heat exchange component to subject the sample to thermal cycling, an excitation source for optically exciting the sample to cause the sample to fluoresce, a photodetector for detecting temperature-dependent fluorescence levels from the sample, and a processor configured to record and process emissions from the fluorescent dye.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nucleic acid quantification kit and method for determining the initial concentration or mass fraction of a target nucleic acid present in a sample. Illustrative embodiments include real-time competitive quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the copy number or mass fraction of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample and use of a thermodynamically based signal processing algorithm, with or without PCR, to provide mass fraction information.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices for performing PCR and monitoring the reaction of a sample comprising a nucleic acid and a fluorescent dye. Illustrative devices comprise a heat exchange component for heating and cooling the sample, a control device for repeatedly operating the heat exchange component to subject the sample to thermal cycling, an excitation source for optically exciting the sample to cause the sample to fluoresce, a photodetector for detecting temperature-dependent fluorescence levels from the sample, and a processor configured to record and process emissions from the fluorescent dye.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to kits for monitoring a nucleic acid during amplification. More particularly, the present invention relates to kits comprising a first oligonucleotide labeled with a first fluorophore, a second oligonucleotide labeled with a second fluorophore, and components for amplifying the locus, wherein the first and second fluorophores comprise a fluorescence resonance energy transfer pair. Hybridization of at least the first oligonucleotide to the amplified locus places the first and second fluorophores in a resonance energy transfer relationship.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for quantitative multiplex PCR of two targets whereby one target is present in at least 100-fold molar excess over that of the other target. The method further comprises the addition of a thermostable DNA polymerase with a final concentration of at least 0.5 units/?l.

Abstract: A thermal cycling method and device is disclosed. The device comprises a sample chamber whose temperature can be rapidly and accurately modulated over a range of temperatures needed to carry out a number of biological procedures, such as the DNA polymerase chain reaction. Biological samples are placed in glass micro capillary tubes and then located inside the sample chamber. A programmable controller regulates the temperature of the sample inside the sample chamber. Monitoring of the DNA amplification is monitored by fluorescence once per cycle or many times per cycle. The present invention provides that fluorescence monitoring of PCR is a powerful tool for DNA quantification.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to kits for monitoring a nucleic acid during amplification. More particularly, the present invention relates to kits comprising a first oligonucleotide labeled with a first fluorophore, a second oligonucleotide labeled with a second fluorophore, and components for amplifying the locus, wherein the first and second fluorophores comprise a fluorescence resonance energy transfer pair. Hybridization of at least the first oligonucleotide to the amplified locus places the first and second fluorophores in a resonance energy transfer relationship.

Abstract: The new invention provides a method and a kit for quantitative multiplex PCR with a high dynamic range characterized in that a thermostable DNA Polymerase with a final concentration of at least 0.5 units/&mgr;l is use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nucleic acid quantification kit and method for determining the initial concentration or mass fraction of a target nucleic acid present in a sample. Illustrative embodiments include real-time competitive quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the copy number or mass fraction of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample and use of a thermodynamically based signal processing algorithm, with or without PCR, to provide mass fraction information.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and kits for monitoring a nucleic acid during amplification. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method wherein the nucleic acid is monitored during polymerase chain reaction using a double-stranded nucleic acid binding dye capable of producing a fluorescent signal related to the amount of the nucleic acid present in a sample, wherien the dye is selected from the group consisting of SYBR™ Green I and pico green.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and kits for monitoring a nucleic acid during amplification. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method wherein the nucleic acid is monitored during polymerase chain reaction using a heat-labile double-stranded nucleic acid binding dye capable of producing a fluorescent signal related to the amount of the nucleic acid present in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of determining the concentration of a nucleic acid product that had been amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). More particularly, the present invention relates to a method wherein a rate constant is determined for a known concentration of amplified product by monitoring the rate of hybridization of the known concentration, and then the concentration of an unknown concentration of a nucleic acid product can be determined by determining the rate of annealing for the unknown concentration, and calculating the concentration from the rate of annealing and the rate constant.

Abstract: Methods of monitoring hybridization during polymerase chain reaction are disclosed. These methods are achieved with rapid thermal cycling and use of double stranded DNA dyes or specific hybridization probes. A fluorescence resonance energy transfer pair comprises fluorescein and Cy5 or Cy5.5. Methods for quantitating amplified DNA and determining its purity are carried out by analysis of melting and reannealing curves.