Abstract: The invention includes kits and methods for assessing the susceptibility of a mammal such as a human for carcinogenesis. The methods comprise determining whether the mammal comprises a certain allele of the mammal's odc gene. The methods include use of a probe which binds specifically with a portion of one allele of the odc gene and which comprises a fluorescent label and a fluorescence quencher. The methods also include use of such a probe and a polymerase enzyme for amplifying a portion of the odc gene, the polymerase having exonuclease activity whereby the probe can be nucleolytically degraded.

Abstract: The invention includes kits and methods for assessing the susceptibility of a mammal such as a human for carcinogenesis. The methods comprise determining whether the mammal comprises a certain allele of the mammal's odc gene. The methods include use of a probe which binds specifically with a portion of one allele of the odc gene and which comprises a fluorescent label and a fluorescence quencher. The methods also include use of such a probe and a polymerase enzyme for amplifying a portion of the odc gene, the polymerase having exonuclease activity whereby the probe can be nucleolytically degraded.