Patents Assigned to LGC Limited
-
Patent number: 10007754Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for obtaining information about DNA analysis of samples of uncertain origin by establishing the likelihood that they arose in certain manners compared with other possible manners. In this way all of the analysis information is taken into account and likelihood ratios are provided to express the results. The invention is particularly useful in analyzing small DNA samples or DNA samples where the contribution from one or more sources is small.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2013Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: LGC LIMITEDInventors: Peter David Gill, Jonathon Paul Whitaker, John Simon Buckleton
-
Patent number: 9404148Abstract: A method for determining the number of tandem repeats in a target polynucleotide, the method comprising (a) providing a sample containing the target polynucleotide, wherein one or more of the tandem repeats in the target polynucleotide is in single stranded form, (b) hybridizing a labelled probe oligonucleotide to the single stranded portion of the target polynucleotide, wherein the probe oligonucleotide is complementary to at least one of the tandem repeats, and at least 5 nucleotides of the probe oligonucleotide are complementary to the tandem repeats, in the single stranded portion of the target polynucleotide, and (c) determining the number of tandem repeats in the target polynucleotide based on the hybridization of the probe oligonucleotide to the single stranded portion of the target polynucleotide.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: LGC LimitedInventors: Nittaya Gale, Paul Debenham, David John French, Rebecca Howard, David Gordon McDowell, Tom Brown
-
Patent number: 9139871Abstract: A method for amplifying nucleic acid from a higher eukaryotic, such as mammalian or plant, nucleic acid source, the method comprising (a) contacting a sampling device with the source of higher eukaryotic, such as mammalian or plant, nucleic acid such that following said contacting, higher eukaryotic such as mammalian or plant nucleic acid-containing material is adhered to at least part of the sampling device, wherein the sampling device, or part thereof to which the nucleic acid-containing material is adhered, is made of a suitable polymeric material; (b) introducing the sampling device or part thereof to which the nucleic acid-containing material is adhered into a reaction vessel which contains a reaction mixture for carrying out a nucleic acid amplification reaction, without any prior treatment of the nucleic acid-containing material; and (c) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: LGC LimitedInventors: Paul Gerald Debenham, John David Moore
-
Publication number: 20140121993Abstract: In many situations, particularly in forensic science, there is a need to consider one piece of evidence against one or more other pieces of evidence. For instance, it may be desirable to compare a sample collected from a crime scene with a sample collected from a person, with a view to linking the two by comparing the characteristics of their DNA, particularly by expressing the strength or likelihood of the comparison made, a so called likelihood ratio. The method provides a more accurate or robust method for establishing likelihood ratios through the definitions of the likelihood ratios used and the manner in which the probability distribution functions for use in establishing likelihood ratios are obtained The methods provide due consideration of stutter and/or dropout of alleles in DNA analysis, as well as taking into consideration one or more peak imbalance effects, such as degradation, amplification efficiency, sampling effects and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: LGC LIMITEDInventors: Roberto Puch-Solis, Lauren Rodgers
-
Publication number: 20140089301Abstract: A method for comparing DNA containing test results and stored results is provided, including a) a stored result selection and plurality of stored result database creation stage; b) a test result against stored result comparison stage, including: 1) A test result selection and plurality of test result database creation sub-stage; 2) A single test result database against single stored result database search sub-stage, performed for the various pairs of test result databases and stored result databases, to establish matches; 3) An established match review sub-stage, to filter out established matches which do not feature as matches across the other test result against stored result databases; 4) A process outcome sub-stage which provides details of the matches which extend across all the database pairs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: LGC LIMITEDInventors: Matthew Barron, Richard Livett
-
Publication number: 20130173172Abstract: In many situations, particularly in forensic science, there is a need to consider one piece of evidence against one or more other pieces of evidence. For instance, it may be desirable to compare a sample collected from a crime scene with a sample collected from a person, with a view to linking the two by comparing the characteristics of their DNA, particularly by expressing the strength or likelihood of the comparison made, a so called likelihood ratio. The method provides a more accurate or robust method for establishing likelihood ratios through the definitions of the likelihood ratios used and the manner in which the probability distribution functions for use in establishing likelihood ratios are obtained. The methods provide due consideration of stutter and/or dropout of alleles in DNA analysis, as well as taking into consideration one or more peak imbalance effects, such as degradation, amplification efficiency, sampling effects and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: LGC LIMITEDInventors: Roberto Puch-Solis, Lauren Rodgers
-
Publication number: 20130157315Abstract: A method for amplifying nucleic acid from a higher eukaryotic, such as mammalian or plant, nucleic acid source, the method comprising (a) contacting a sampling device with the source of higher eukaryotic, such as mammalian or plant, nucleic acid such that following said contacting, higher eukaryotic such as mammalian or plant nucleic acid-containing material is adhered to at least part of the sampling device, wherein the sampling device, or part thereof to which the nucleic acid-containing material is adhered, is made of a suitable polymeric material; (b) introducing the sampling device or part thereof to which the nucleic acid-containing material is adhered into a reaction vessel which contains a reaction mixture for carrying out a nucleic acid amplification reaction, without any prior treatment of the nucleic acid-containing material; and (c) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: LGC LimitedInventors: Paul Gerald Debenham, John David Moore
-
Patent number: 8383791Abstract: A single stranded oligonucleotide having substantially no secondary structure and formed of nucleotide residues wherein two or more internal nucleotide residues are labelled with a fluorophore without an associated quencher. Typically at least two of the nucleotide residues labelled with a fluorophore are separated by at least two unlabelled nucleotide residues. The oligonucleotides are useful in the investigation of target polynucleotide sequences.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: LGC LimitedInventors: David Gordon McDowell, David John French
-
Patent number: 7998673Abstract: A method for detecting specific DNA sequences and discriminating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using fluorescently labelled oligonucleotide probes is disclosed. Oligonucleotide probes are labelled with reporter molecules preferentially attached to an internal nucleotide residue. The fluorescence emission of oligonucleotide probes varies significantly when in single-stranded and double-stranded states despite the absence of quencher moieties, allowing reliable detection of complementary DNA targets. The melting temperature of probe/target duplexes permits discrimination of targets that differ by as little as a single nucleotide residue, such that polymorphic targets may be discriminated by fluorescence quantitation and Tm.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: LGC LimitedInventors: David John French, David Gordon McDowell, Tom Brown
-
Patent number: 7348141Abstract: A method for detecting specific DNA sequences and discriminating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using fluorescently labelled oligonucleotide probes is disclosed. Oligonucleotide probes are labelled with a reporter molecule preferentially attached to an internal nucleotide residue. The fluorescence emission of oligonucleotide probes varies significantly when in single-stranded and double-stranded states despite the absence of quencher moieties, allowing reliable detection of complementary DNA targets. The melting temperature of probe/target duplexes permits discrimination of targets that differ by as little as a single nucleotide residue, such that polymorphic targets may be discriminated by fluorescence quantitation and Tm.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2001Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: LGC LimitedInventors: David John French, David Gordon McDowell, Tom Brown