Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying and selecting nucleic acid probes for detecting a target with a nucleic acid probe array or comparative genome hybridization microarray, comprising selecting a plurality of potential target sequences, generating a plurality of candidate probes from the target sequences, filtering the plurality of candidate probes by analyzing candidate probes for selected probe properties in silico. Microarrays comprising probes selected by the methods of the invention are particularly useful for comparative genome hybridization and location analysis.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying and selecting nucleic acid probes for detecting a target with a nucleic acid probe array or comparative genome hybridization microarray, comprising selecting a plurality of potential target sequences, generating a plurality of candidate probes from the target sequences, filtering the plurality of candidate probes by analyzing candidate probes for selected probe properties in silico. Microarrays comprising probes selected by the methods of the invention are particularly useful for comparative genome hybridization and location analysis.

Abstract: Methods and reagents are disclosed which provide for more sensitive, more accurate and higher through-put analyses of target nucleic acid sequences. The methods and reagents of the present invention may be generically applied to generally any target nucleic acid sequence and do not require a priori information about the presence, location or identity of mutations in the target nucleic acid sequence. The reagents of the invention are mixtures of oligonucleotide precursors having a high level of coverage and mass number complexity, and also having tags analyzable by mass spectrometry which are covalently linked to the precursors through cleavable bonds. A method is also disclosed for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence employing the mixtures of oligonucleotide precursors having tags analyzable by mass spectrometry covalently linked to the oligonucleotide precursors through cleavable bonds, and chemical or enzymatic assays to alter the mass of the oligonucleotide precursors prior to mass spectral analysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and methods for assaying nucleic acid molecules with reduced levels of background signal and enhanced specificity and sensitivity. In particular, the present invention provides a system and methods for detecting, sorting, tracking and characterizing nucleic acid molecules using hybridization assays with reduced levels of undesirable cross hybridization and reduced levels of intramolecular secondary structure.

Abstract: Methods for identification of statistically significant combinatorial patterns in CGH data that are indicative of the progression of chromosomal aberrations in tumors. The methods comprise acquiring comparative genomic hybridization data, identifying a long order preserving subset within the comparative genomic hybridization data, and identifying a chromosomal aberration associated with the long order preserving subset.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an orientation of a molecular array having features arranged in a pattern. An image of the molecular array is obtained by scanning the molecular array to determine data signals emanating from discrete positions on a surface of the molecular array. An actual result of a function on pixels of the image which pixels lie in a second pattern, is calculated. This actual result is compared with an expected result which would be obtained if the second pattern had a predetermined orientation on the array. Array orientation can then be evaluated based on the result.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an orientation of a molecular array having features arranged in a pattern. An image of the molecular array is obtained by scanning the molecular array to determine data signals emanating from discrete positions on a surface of the molecular array. An actual result of a function on pixels of the image which pixels lie in a second pattern, is calculated. This actual result is compared with an expected result which would be obtained if the second pattern had a predetermined orientation on the array. Array orientation can then be evaluated based on the result.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an orientation of a molecular array having features arranged in a pattern. An image of the molecular array is obtained by scanning the molecular array to determine data signals emanating from discrete positions on a surface of the molecular array. An actual result of a function on pixels of the image which pixels lie in a second pattern, is calculated. This actual result is compared with an expected result which would be obtained if the second pattern had a predetermined orientation on the array. Array orientation can then be evaluated based on the result.

Abstract: Methods of identifying a sequence of a probe, e.g., a biopolymeric probe, such as a nucleic acid, that is suitable for use as a surface immobilized probe for a target molecule of interest, e.g., a target nucleic acid, are provided. A feature of the subject methods is that a set of computationally determined initial candidate sequences are empirically evaluated to obtain functional data that is then employed to identify one or more clusters of candidate probe sequences from the initial set such that all candidate probe sequences within each identified cluster exhibitsubstantially the same performance under a plurality of different experiments, specifically a plurality of differential gene expression experiments. A candidate probe from the cluster that exhibits the best performance across the plurality of experimental sets is then selected as the optimum candidate probe, e.g., based on one or more performance metrics.

Abstract: Methods and reagents are disclosed which provide for more sensitive, more accurate and higher through-put analyses of target nucleic acid sequences. The methods and reagents of the present invention may be generically applied to generally any target nucleic acid sequence and do not require a priori information about the presence, location or identity of mutations in the target nucleic acid sequence. The reagents of the invention are mixtures of oligonucleotide precursors having a high level of coverage and mass number complexity, and also having tags analyzable by mass spectrometry which are covalently linked to the precursors through cleavable bonds. A method is also disclosed for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence employing the mixtures of oligonucleotide precursors having tags analyzable by mass spectrometry covalently linked to the oligonucleotide precursors through cleavable bonds, and chemical or enzymatic assays to alter the mass of the oligonucleotide precursors prior to mass spectral analysis.

Abstract: A method and system for applying arbitrary similarity metrics to data entities in order to partition the entities into subsets of related entities. The method and system iteratively construct successive subsets, during construction of each subset adding candidate entities, not yet assigned to a subset, with high affinities toward the subset and removing entities previously assigned to the subset for which the affinities toward the subset have decreased. The method and system efficiently partition data with a high probability of finding an optimal or near-optimal partitioning.

Abstract: A computational method and system for predicting the hybridization potential for two polymers. A probe/target interaction matrix is prepared to contain indications of all possible probe/target subunit interaction stabilities. The probe/target interaction matrix is analyzed to create a list of possible single-fragment hybridizations. A graph is then generated with vertices representing fragments, and edges representing possible loops in one or both of the probe and target sequences that allow the pair of fragments interconnected by the edge to coexist within a multi-fragment cross-hybridization. Finally, the graph is analyzed to construct a list of all possible single-fragment and multi-fragment cross-hybridizations possible between the probe molecule and the target molecule. The different hybridizations are scored and sorted by score.

Abstract: Methods and reagents are disclosed which satisfy the need for more sensitive, more accurate and higher through-put analyses of target nucleic acid sequences. The methods and reagents may be generically applied to generally any target nucleic acid sequence and do not require a priori information about the presence, location or identity of mutations in the target nucleic acid sequence. The reagents of the invention are mixtures of natural and mass-modified oligonucleotide precursors having a high level of coverage and mass number complexity. A method is also disclosed for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence employing the mixtures of natural and mass-modified oligonucleotide precursors and chemical or enzymatic assays to alter the mass of the oligonucleotide precursors prior to mass spectral analysis, generally via MALDI-TOF. The enzymatic assay may be a polymerase extension assay or a ligase assay. The kits for carrying out the methods of the invention are also disclosed.