Abstract: Modified nucleic acid adapters are provided that collectively provide a mixture of nucleotides at the 3? end of 5? adapters and at the 5? end of 3? adapters such that at least one adapter in each set has any given nucleotide at position 1, i.e., the nucleotide position available for ligation to a small RNA, and has any given nucleotide at position 2 adjacent to position 1 for use in overcoming bias during nucleic acid manipulation, such as small RNA characterization and/or profiling by, e.g., deep sequencing, along with methods for use of the modified adapters in small RNA characterization. The modified adapters have at least two mixed nucleotides at the adapter terminus to be ligated to a nucleic acid such as a small RNA.

Abstract: Modified nucleic acid adapters are provided that collectively provide a mixture of nucleotides at the 3? end of 5? adapters and at the 5? end of 3? adapters such that at least one adapter in each set has any given nucleotide at position 1, i.e., the nucleotide position available for ligation to a small RNA, and has any given nucleotide at position 2 adjacent to position 1 for use in overcoming bias during nucleic acid manipulation, such as small RNA characterization and/or profiling by, e.g., deep sequencing, along with methods for use of the modified adapters in small RNA characterization. The modified adapters have at least two mixed nucleotides at the adapter terminus to be ligated to a nucleic acid such as a small RNA.

Abstract: Modified nucleic acid adapters are provided that collectively provide a mixture of nucleotides at the 3? end of 5? adapters and at the 5? end of 3? adapters such that at least one adapter in each set has any given nucleotide at position 1, i.e., the nucleotide position available for ligation to a small RNA, and has any given nucleotide at position 2 adjacent to position 1 for use in overcoming bias during nucleic acid manipulation, such as small RNA characterization and/or profiling by, e.g., deep sequencing, along with methods for use of the modified adapters in small RNA characterization. The modified adapters have at least two mixed nucleotides at the adapter terminus to be ligated to a nucleic acid such as a small RNA.

Abstract: Provided are methods for determining TCR ?/? and TCR ?/? chain pairings in T cell(s) of interest within a population of T cells, comprising a combination of selecting for the T cell(s) of interest based on the TCR ?/? or TCR ?/? chain followed by sequencing of the counterpart TCR ?/? or TCR ?/? chain, respectively.

Abstract: A method for preparing circular double stranded mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) substantially free of genomic DNA (gDNA) comprising the steps of: providing a cellular lysate free of protein and RNA contaminants, precipitating cellular debris and proteins out of said lysate and obtaining a solution comprising purified circular double stranded mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and genomic DNA (gDNA), incubating said solution with an amount of Hind Exonuclease V for a time and at a temperature effective to cleave non-circular DNA and obtain circular double stranded mtDNA, incubating said circular double stranded mtDNA with an amount of Ampure beads effective to bind said circular double stranded mtDNA, washing said beads with ethanol, and eluting said mtDNA from said beads, wherein said method is free of ultra-centrifugation.

Abstract: Modified nucleic acid adapters are provided that collectively provide a mixture of nucleotides at the 3? end of 5? adapters and at the 5? end of 3? adapters such that at least one adapter in each set has any given nucleotide at position 1, i.e., the nucleotide position available for ligation to a small RNA, and has any given nucleotide at position 2 adjacent to position 1 for use in overcoming bias during nucleic acid manipulation, such as small RNA characterization and/or profiling by, e.g., deep sequencing, along with methods for use of the modified adapters in small RNA characterization. The modified adapters have at least two mixed nucleotides at the adapter terminus to be ligated to a nucleic acid such as a small RNA.

Abstract: Modified nucleic acid adapters are provided that collectively provide a mixture of nucleotides at the 3? end of 5? adapters and at the 5? end of 3? adapters such that at least one adapter in each set has any given nucleotide at position 1, i.e., the nucleotide position available for ligation to a small RNA, and has any given nucleotide at position 2 adjacent to position 1 for use in overcoming bias during nucleic acid manipulation, such as small RNA characterization and/or profiling by, e.g., deep sequencing, along with methods for use of the modified adapters in small RNA characterization. The modified adapters have at least two mixed nucleotides at the adapter terminus to be ligated to a nucleic acid such as a small RNA.

Abstract: A method for preparing circular double stranded mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) substantially free of genomic DNA (gDNA) comprising the steps of: providing a cellular lysate free of protein and RNA contaminants, precipitating cellular debris and proteins out of said lysate and obtaining a solution comprising purified circular double stranded mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and genomic DNA (gDNA), incubating said solution with an amount of Hind Exonuclease V for a time and at a temperature effective to cleave non-circular DNA and obtain circular double stranded mtDNA, incubating said circular double stranded mtDNA with an amount of Ampure beads effective to bind said circular double stranded mtDNA, washing said beads with ethanol, and eluting said mtDNA from said beads, wherein said method is free of ultra-centrifugation.

Abstract: Modified nucleic acid adapters are provided that collectively provide a mixture of nucleotides at the 3? end of 5? adapters and at the 5? end of 3? adapters such that at least one adapter in each set has any given nucleotide at position 1, i.e., the nucleotide position available for ligation to a small RNA, and has any given nucleotide at position 2 adjacent to position 1 for use in overcoming bias during nucleic acid manipulation, such as small RNA characterization and/or profiling by, e.g., deep sequencing, along with methods for use of the modified adapters in small RNA characterization. The modified adapters have at least two mixed nucleotides at the adapter terminus to be ligated to a nucleic acid such as a small RNA.