Abstract: There is a method for converting at least a part of a target polynucleotide sequence into a different sequence, comprising the steps of: (i) hybridising two or more first polynucleotides to adjacent positions on the target and linking first polynucleotides together, wherein at least one of the first polynucleotides comprises at least one nucleotide that is not complementary to the target; and (ii) dissociating the hybrid of step (i) and forming a second polynucleotide hybridised to the first polynucleotide, the second polynucleotide comprising at least one portion complementary to a portion on the first polynucleotide and comprising the complement to the at least one nucleotide of step (i).

Abstract: The present invention describes optical discs on which polymer molecules can be analyzed. There is a method for determining a plurality of characteristics of a target molecule, the target molecule being localized on an optical substrate comprising pits and lands, comprising the steps of: (i) carrying out a series of reactions to interrogate different defined characteristics of the target molecule, wherein each of the reactions occurs in a distinct pit; (ii) treating the optical substrate to modify either those pits where a reaction has occurred, or alternatively, those pits where a reaction has not occurred, to alter the reflective characteristics of the pits; and (iii) measuring reflectivity within the pits, to thereby determine different characteristics of the target.

Abstract: A method for identifying the presence of a single stranded target polynucleotide in a sample comprising the steps of (i) contacting the target polynucleotide, under hybridising conditions, with at least first and second polynucleotide probes, each of which comprise a first region complementary to adjacent non-overlappïng regions of the target polynucleotide; (ii) ligating together those first and second polynucleotides that hybridise to the target polynucleotide; (iii) optionally, amplifying any ligated polynucleotides; and (iv) determining whether the target polynucleotide is present in the original sample, by detecting any ligated polynucleotide, wherein at least one of the first and second polynucleotides comprise a second region having a defined polynucleotide sequence, with each individual nucleotide of the first region being represented by at least two nucleotides on the second region, and the ligated polynucleotide being identified by determining the second region of at least one of the first and secon

Abstract: A method for analysing a target polynucleotide having distinct units of nucleic acid sequence comprising: (i) forming a first polynucleotide which is a concatemer having multiple repeating target polynucleotide sequences; (ii) forming on the first polynucleotide a second polynucleotide hybridised to a portion of one or more of the target polynucleotides, such that the portion hybridised, or the portion not hybridised, corresponds to a sequence unit on the target, and determining the sequence unit on the target.

Abstract: A method of identifying at least one characteristic of a target molecule comprises the steps of: (i) converting the at least one characteristic into a signal polynucleotide; and (ii) identifying the signal polynucleotide sequence, thereby identifying the at least one characteristic of the target molecule wherein each signal polynucleotide comprises at least one control sequence that defines a characteristic of the signal polynucleotide, and wherein identification of the control sequence confirms whether the signal polynucleotide sequence has been identified correctly, and, optionally, if the identification is not correct, provides the necessary information to determine what the correct signal polynucleotide sequence should be.

Abstract: A method for sequencing a target polymer molecule comprises the steps of: (i) treating the target polymer with an agent that degrades sequentially at least one end of the target polymer; (ii) converting at least a portion of the degraded end of different degraded polymers into a readable signal sequence, and labeling each of said degraded polymers with a tag that represents the relative order of degradation; (iii) determining the sequence of the readable signal sequence; and (iv) determining the sequence of the target polymer using the sequence data obtained in step (iii) and the identification of each associated tag.

Abstract: The method of the invention is useful in quantifying the absolute or relative number of unique molecules present in a sample after carrying out an analysis procedure on the sample, and comprises the steps of: (i) attaching a unique molecular tag to substantially all of the molecules in the sample; (ii) carrying out the analysis procedure using the molecules of the sample; and (iii) on the basis of the molecular tags determining the absolute or relative number of unique molecules present in the original sample which underwent the analysis procedure.

Abstract: The method of the invention improves the specificity of a ligation reaction carried out between a first double-stranded polynucleotide having a single-stranded portion and a second polynucleotide having a complementary single-stranded portion, the second polynucleotide being present in a sample comprising a mixture of different polynucleotides. The method comprises contacting the sample, under hybridising conditions, with the first polynucleotide and one or more third polynucleotide(s) wherein the third polynucleotide(s) comprises a single-stranded portion that differs from the single-stranded portion of the first polynucleotide by at least one base substitution.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for identifying one or more characteristics of a target molecule, and comprises the steps of: converting the characteristics of the molecule into a polynucleotide of defined sequence, wherein each characteristic is represented by at least one distinct unit on the polynucleotide, the unit comprising at least a single base; contacting the polynucleotide with at least one of the nucleotides dATP, dTTP (dUTP), dGTP and dCTP, under conditions that permit the polymerisation reaction to proceed, wherein the at least one nucleotide comprises a detectable label specific for the nucleotide; removing any non-incorporated nucleotides and detecting any incorporation events; removing any labels; and repeating steps (ii) to (iv) to thereby identify the different units, and thereby the characteristics of the molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of sequencing all or part of a target nucleic acid molecule by determining the sequence of a portion of said nucleic acid molecule in addition to information regarding the position of said portion and in particular provides a new method of sequencing involving the magnification of one or more bases of said bases to aid identification.