Abstract: Provided herein is a method of inhibiting degradation of nucleic acids during a nucleic acid processing step selected from fragmentation and detection comprising contacting the nucleic acids with a solution comprising gallic acid, analogues, derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof, during the processing step, wherein the contacting inhibits degradation of the nucleic acids. Also provided herein is a method of inhibiting light-induced degradation of nucleic acids. Additionally, provided herein is a method of reducing or inhibiting nucleic acid damage during preparation of a nucleic acid sample comprising fragmenting the nucleic acid sequences in the sample in a solution comprising one of more compounds, the compounds inhibiting degradation of the nucleic acid sequences in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for analyzing the methylation status of a genomic DNA sample, comprising the steps of (i) fragmenting said sample and enriching said sample for sequences comprising CpG islands, (ii) generating a single stranded DNA library, (iii) subjecting said sample to Bisulfite treatment, (iv) clonally amplifying individual members of said single stranded DNA library by means of emulsion PCR, and (v) sequencing said amplified clonally amplified single stranded DNA library.