Abstract: A device comprising a light source, a sample holder and a temperature control chamber. The sample holder supports the vessels in a fixed relationship relative to the light source. The temperature control chamber surrounds the sample holder and vessels, so that a temperature control fluid may be passed around the sample vessels effectively maintaining the temperature of the sample vessels within a desired temperature range.

Abstract: The invention is directed to isopsoralen compound compositions that contain a variety of substitutions which yet permit their binding to nucleic acid polymers. Reaction conditions that activate these bound isopsoralens results in covalent crosslinking to the nucleic acid polymers. The resultant complex is inhibited from being a template for the template-directed enzymatic synthesis of a complementary nucleic acid polymer. Beside the isopsoralens compositions, the invention includes their synthesis, the nucleic acid complex production and detection, and the above inhibitory method of use of the isopsoralens.

Abstract: Novel methods and reagents for determining the presence of specific nucleic acid base sequences by employing crosslinking reactions of unique molecules capable of forming covalent bonds which are bonded with various labels or ligands for amplication.Single stranded nucleic acid probes are employed which contain complementary base sequences to nucleic acid target molecules. By first hybridizing and then forming covalent bonds between the probe and target the amount of label in the crosslinked hybrid can be measured as an extremely sensitive method for assaying for specific nucleic acid sequences.