Abstract: Since conventional DNA sequence analyzing technologies are based on the fundamental principle of fluorescent detection, expensive, complex optical systems and laser sources have been necessary. A field-effect device for gene detection of the present invention analyzes a base sequence by immobilizing a single-strand nucleic acid probe at a gate portion, inducing hybridization at the gate portion to form a double-stranded DNA, inducing elongation reaction by adding a DNA polymerase and one of the substrates, and measuring the electrical characteristic of the field-effect device caused by elongation reaction. Since the elongation reaction of one base induced at the gate portion can be directly converted to an electrical signal, expensive lasers or complex optical systems are not needed. Thus, a small gene polymorphism detection system that can conduct measurement at high precision can be provided.

Abstract: A gene detection field-effect device provided with an insulation film (2), a semiconductor substrate (3), and a reference electrode (4), includes:(a) the insulation film (2) including a nucleic acid probe (5) immobilized on one of the surfaces thereof and is in contact with a sample solution (6) containing at least one type of a target gene (601) for detection and analysis; (b) the semiconductor substrate (3) being installed so as to abut against the other surface of the insulation film (2); and (c) the reference electrode (4) being provided in the sample solution (6).

Abstract: In a chemical analysis apparatus for extracting a specific substance, such as nucleic acid, from a sample containing a plurality of chemical substances, solutions remaining in valves are prevented so that a reagent in an earlier step does not contaminate the subsequent steps. Predetermined quantities of solutions are carried and supplied by centrifugal force without providing valves for controlling the flow of the solutions. After perforating the lids of ventilation holes 272, 273, 274 communicated with a detection container 450 and disposal containers 460 and 470 in an analysis disc 2, the analysis disc 2 is rotated to supply and carry a predetermined quantity of the sample.

Abstract: A nucleic acid refining apparatus, being ease in automation thereof, keeping high in contacting frequency between nucleic acid within a sample and a solid phase during nucleic acid capture processing, thereby proving high capturing rate, comprises: means for separating a liquid containing the nucleic acid therein from said sample through centrifugal force; means for transferring a reagent through the centrifugal force; means for producing a mixture liquid of said reagent transferred through the centrifugal force and a solution containing said nucleic acid therein; a carrier for capturing said nucleic acid; means for transferring said mixture liquid to said carrier through the centrifugal force; heating means for heating said carrier; and a holding means for separating and holding the reagent containing said nucleic acid eluting from said carrier, separating from other reagent, through different centrifugal.

Abstract: A nucleic acid contained in a sample is quantified with high accuracy. The procedure includes the step of allowing the sample containing a specific nucleic acid to interact with a DNA microarray provided with a plurality of nucleic acid probe parts having a nucleic acid probe capable of hybridizing to the specific nucleic acid; the step of monitoring outputs from each of the plurality of nucleic acid probe parts due to hybridization between the nucleic acid probe and the specific nucleic acid to determine normal distribution of time taken to reach a predetermined output value with respect to each of the plurality of nucleic acid probe parts; and the step of quantifying the specific nucleic acid contained in the sample based on a maximum value determined from the normal distribution obtained in the above step.

Abstract: An inexpensive DNA chip/DNA microarray system capable of highly accurate measurement with low running cost. A DNA probe 8 is immobilized on a floating electrode 7 connected to a gate electrode 5 of a field effect transistor. Hybridization with a target gene is carried out on the surface of the floating electrode, when a change in surface charge density is detected using a field effect.

Abstract: A nucleic acid contained in a sample is quantified with high accuracy. The procedure includes the step of allowing the sample containing a specific nucleic acid to interact with a DNA microarray provided with a plurality of nucleic acid probe parts having a nucleic acid probe capable of hybridizing to the specific nucleic acid; the step of monitoring outputs from each of the plurality of nucleic acid probe parts due to hybridization between the nucleic acid probe and the specific nucleic acid to determine normal distribution of time taken to reach a predetermined output value with respect to each of the plurality of nucleic acid probe parts; and the step of quantifying the specific nucleic acid contained in the sample based on a maximum value determined from the normal distribution obtained in the above step.

Abstract: A gene sequence-reading instrument comprising attractive force-generating probes (terminals) each retaining DNA-constituting bases to carbon nanotubes, a detecting part for detecting the attractive force generated between the base sequences on RNA having gene information and said attractive force-generating probes as distortion, an amplifying part for amplifying said distortion, a recording part for recording the distortion signal from said amplifying part, and a display part for displaying base sequences of RNA based on the information recorded in said recording part.

Abstract: A biochemical reaction detection chip capable of controlling the temperature for biochemical reactions including hybridizations and its substrate. The function of the chip is performed by comprising a plurality of islands of a heat conducting material on the membrane of the substrate, the islands being spaced from each other and individually provided with temperature controllers, and the probes immobilized on the substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing an unsaturated carboxylic ester is provided, which can prevent the raw material compounds and the product of the reaction from splashing and adhering on the inner wall of the reaction vessel and succumbing to polymerization on the inner wall. Specifically, it is characterized by the fact that the difference between the outer periphery of the reaction vessel heated by the heating means and the reaction solution in temperature is not higher than 80° C.

Abstract: A DNA microarray system whereby measurement can be performed at a low running cost, a low price and yet a high accuracy. A nucleic acid probe (3) is immobilized on the surface of a gate insulator of an electric field effect transistor and then hybridized with a target gene on the surface of the gate insulator. A change in the surface electric charge density thus arising is detected by using the electric effect.

Abstract: The invention is achieved by feeding a reagent using centrifugal force, without providing a valve for controlling the flow rate of the reagent in the reagent flow path. A chemical analyzer is used which comprises a structure that is supported so as to be rotatable, said structure comprising a capturing section for capturing specific chemical substances from a specimen, specimen containers and reagent containers including washing solution containers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA base sequencing system having a compact, simple and convenient structure. In one embodiment of the present invention, a reaction chamber module for pyrosequencing in which a multiple number of reaction vessels (reaction chambers) 10 and reagent-introducing narrow tubes 6 are integrated is formed in a device board 5. Reagents held in reagent reservoirs 1, 2, 3 and 4 mounted separately from this reaction chamber module are introduced into the reaction vessels 10 via reagent-introducing narrow tubes (capillaries) 6. The reagent-introducing narrow tubes (capillaries) 6 at the area of 2 cm from the reaction vessels 10 are structured with narrow capillaries having an inner diameter of about 0.1 mm and the conductance of these capillaries for the reagent solution determines the injection speed of the solution. Using the present invention, many kinds of DNAs can be analyzed simultaneously.

Abstract: A nucleic acid refining apparatus, being ease in automation thereof, keeping high in contacting frequency between nucleic acid within a sample and a solid phase during nucleic acid capture processing, thereby proving high capturing rate, comprises: means for separating a liquid containing the nucleic acid therein from said sample through centrifugal force; means for transferring a reagent through the centrifugal force; means for producing a mixture liquid of said reagent transferred through the centrifugal force and a solution containing said nucleic acid therein; a carrier for capturing said nucleic acid; means for transferring said mixture liquid to said carrier through the centrifugal force; heating means for heating said carrier; and a holding means for separating and holding the reagent containing said nucleic acid eluting from said carrier, separating from other reagent, through different centrifugal.

Abstract: In a chemical analysis apparatus for extracting a specific substance, such as nucleic acid, from a sample containing a plurality of chemical substances, solutions remaining in valves are prevented so that a reagent in an earlier step does not contaminate the subsequent steps. Predetermined quantities of solutions are carried and supplied by centrifugal force without providing valves for controlling the flow of the solutions. After perforating the lids of ventilation holes 272, 273, 274 communicated with a detection container 450 and disposal containers 460 and 470 in an analysis disc 2, the analysis disc 2 is rotated to supply and carry a predetermined quantity of the sample.

Abstract: A gene sequence-reading instrument comprising attractive force-generating probes (terminals) each retaining DNA-constituting bases to carbon nanotubes, a detecting part for detecting the attractive force generated between the base sequences on RNA having gene information and said attractive force-generating probes as distortion, an amplifying part for amplifying said distortion, a recording part for recording the distortion signal from said amplifying part, and a display part for displaying base sequences of RNA based on the information recorded in said recording part.

Abstract: A method for analyzing nucleic acid comprises sequential steps of obtaining genomic DNA fragments and RNA fragments from a sample taken from a subject; obtaining cDNA fragments to the RNA fragments by a reverse-transcriptase reaction; performing PCR amplification using the genomic DNA fragments and the cDNA fragments as templates to obtain a first PCR amplification product derived from a target region of the genomic DNA fragments and a second PCR amplification product derived from the target region of the cDNA fragments; measuring the amounts of the first PCR amplification product and of the second PCR amplification product for an allele pair from which the genomic DNA fragments and the cDNA fragments are derived; detecting the difference in gene expression between the alleles based on the results of the measurements; and determining the existence or otherwise of genetic abnormality based on the measurement results.

Abstract: A gene sequence-reading instrument comprising attractive force-generating probes (terminals) each retaining DNA-constituting bases to carbon nanotubes, a detecting part for detecting the attractive force generated between the base sequences on RNA having gene information and said attractive force-generating probes as distortion, an amplifying part for amplifying said distortion, a recording part for recording the distortion signal from said amplifying part, and a display part for displaying base sequences of RNA based on the information recorded in said recording part.

Abstract: A gene sequence-reading instrument comprising attractive force-generating probes (terminals) each retaining DNA-constituting bases to carbon nanotubes, a detecting part for detecting the attractive force generated between the base sequences on RNA having gene information and said attractive force-generating probes as distortion, an amplifying part for amplifying said distortion, a recording part for recording the distortion signal from said amplifying part, and a display part for displaying base sequences of RNA based on the information recorded in said recording part.

Abstract: A method for producing an unsaturated carboxylic ester is provided, which can prevent the raw material compounds and the product of the reaction from splashing and adhering on the inner wall of the reaction vessel and succumbing to polymerization on the inner wall. Specifically, it is characterized by the fact that the difference between the outer periphery of the reaction vessel heated by the heating means and the reaction solution in temperature is not higher than 80° C.