Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an allele specific primer which is accompanied by less possibility of the false positive and enables definite discrimination when a base immediately adjacent to on the 3? side of a target SNP base is G, while a base adjacent with one base spaced apart is C. According to the present invention, the 3? end base is designed to be the base corresponding to SNP; the second base from the 3? end to be T or G; the third base from the 3? end to be any one of A, T or C; and the base sequence of from the fourth from the 3? end to the 5? end base to be completely complementary to the sequence of from a base three bases away from the target SNP base on the 3? side to a desired base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for diagnosing or detecting a predisposition to a condition at least partially characterised by inappropriate fibrosis or scarring (e.g. Dupuytren's Disease). The method comprises examining the ZF9 gene, and regulatory elements thereof, derived from a subject of interest to detect the presence of a genetic poylmorphism or mutation in said gene which is linked with the condition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a body fluids identification method and kit. A parallel, multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for the definitive identification of body fluids commonly encountered in forensic casework analysis, namely blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions. The methodology is based on gene expression profiling analysis in which the body fluid-specific genes are identified by detecting the presence of appropriate messenger RNA species. Gene-specific primers are labeled with fluorescent dyes, separated and subjected to laser induced fluorescence for identification of body fluid-specific genes present in a sample stain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting a base at a pre-determined position in a nucleic acid molecule by performing enzymatic detection reactions using base-specific detection oligomers, where each oligomer is specific for a particular base at the predetermined position, and then comparing the enzymatic detection reactions to determine which base is present at the position, with an enzyme-disabling agent being present during the enzymatic detection reaction. In preferred embodiments the enzymatic detection reaction is an oligomer elongation extension reaction, catalysed by, among others, polymerase or ligase. Also disclosed are methods of performing the assay in a liquid phase and on microarrays.