Abstract: The invention provides human papillomavirus vectors useful in gene therapy. Such a vector contains E1 and E2 coding regions from a benign or low-risk human papillomavirus operably linked to a promoter and enhancer, and an LCR region from a human papillomavirus comprising an origin of replication including binding sites for the E1 and E2 proteins. The invention further provides methods of using such vectors in gene therapy, methods of controlling expression using a patch, and methods of using such vectors to evolve drugs for stimulation of hair growth or alteration of hair color.

Abstract: The invention provides a number of strategies for transferring and/or evolving gene(s) associated with cellular DNA uptake so that they confer or enhance DNA-uptake capacity of a recipient cell. Evolution is achieved by recursive cycles of recombination and screening/selection. One such strategy entails evolving genes that confer competence in one species to confer either greater competence in that species, or comparable or greater competence in a second species. Another strategy entails evolving genes for use as components of cloning vector to confer enhanced uptake of the vector. Other strategies entail evolving viral receptors, viruses, and genes that mediate conjugal transfer.

Abstract: The invention provides a number of strategies for transferring and/or evolving gene(s) associated with cellular DNA uptake so that they confer or enhance DNA-uptake capacity of a recipient cell. Evolution is achieved by recursive cycles of recombination and screening/selection. One such strategy entails evolving genes that confer competence in one species to confer either greater competence in that species, or comparable or greater competence in a second species. Another strategy entails evolving genes for use as components of cloning vector to confer enhanced uptake of the vector. Other strategies entail evolving viral receptors, viruses, and genes that mediate conjugal transfer.

Abstract: The invention provides a number of strategies for transferring and/or evolving gene(s) associated with cellular DNA uptake so that they confer or enhance DNA-uptake capacity of a recipient cell. Evolution is achieved by recursive cycles of recombination and screening/selection. One such strategy entails evolving genes that confer competence in one species to confer either greater competence in that species, or comparable or greater competence in a second species. Another strategy entails evolving genes for use as components of cloning vector to confer enhanced uptake of the vector. Other strategies entail evolving viral receptors, viruses, and genes that mediate conjugal transfer.

Abstract: A process is described for denaturing native double-stranded nucleic acid material into its individual strands in an electrochemical cell. The process disclosed is an electrical treatment of the nucleic acid with a voltage applied to the nucleic acid material by an electrode. The process may also employ a promoter compound such as methyl viologen to speed denaturation. The process may be used in the detection of nucleic acid by hybridizing with a labelled probe or in the amplification of DNA by a polymerase chain reaction or ligase chain reaction. A process is described for annealing complementary strands of nucleic acid by application of an electrical voltage.

Abstract: The invention provides a number of strategies for transferring and/or evolving gene(s) associated with cellular DNA uptake so that they confer or enhance DNA-uptake capacity of a recipient cell. Evolution is achieved by recursive cycles of recombination and screening/selection. One such strategy entails evolving genes that confer competence in one species to confer either greater competence in that species, or comparable or greater competence in a second species. Another strategy entails evolving genes for use as components of cloning vector to confer enhanced uptake of the vector. Other strategies entail evolving viral receptors, viruses, and genes that mediate conjugal transfer.