Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds of the general formula (I) or pharmaceutical acceptable salts or physiologically functional derivatives thereof wherein: n is a non-aromatic ring system containing two to seven carbon atoms, wherein the ring system can contain one ore two double bonds; X is C, CH or CH2; Y is selected from C, CH, CH2, S, NR, CH2-CH2, H2C—CH, HC—CH2, C—CH2, H2C—C, or C—C; one or more of the hydrogen atoms can optionally be substituted by one or more substituents R?; each of the dotted lines means a single, a double or triple bond with the exclusion of a combination of a triple with triple bond and a double with a triple bond; R? is independently H, —CN, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, alkoxy, —OH, —SH, alkylthio, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylamino, halogene, haloalkyl, haloalkyloxy; R is H, an alkyl or cycloalkyl group; Z is CH, C, or P; p is 0 or 1.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for obtaining additional information about DNA mixtures arising from a variety of sources and/or a variety of concentrations.

Abstract: A method of amplification of one or more DNA sequences in a DNA containing sample, and methods of investigating such samples are provided in which an improved amplification cycling regime is used. The regime features a first phase and a second phase, the first phase including a denaturation temperature step, followed by an annealing temperature step, followed by a corrected annealed primer extension temperature step, these steps being followed by an annealing temperature step, corrected annealed primer extension temperature step prior to any further denaturation temperature steps being applied. Increased amplification from a given number of amplification cycles and maximised sensitivity for the DNA amplification process is achieved as a result.

Abstract: A method of evaluating primers for use in the amplification of DNA sequences, a method of producing a mixture of primers for such a purpose and a method of amplifying a plurality of DNA sequences using a mixture of primers is provided in which the evaluation involves performing one or more initial evaluations, obtaining a plurality of SNP sites and related potential primer identities which are passes, generating primers corresponding to those primer identities and conducting a test amplification process using those primers in conjunction with a further evaluation of the results, the pass primers therefrom forming a pool of primer candidates from which one or more primers for use in the amplification of DNA sequences are selected.