Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, the method comprising (a) amplifying the target nucleic acid so that the product of the amplification reaction includes a purine rich region, (b) contacting the sample during the amplification with a peptide nucleic acid able to bind to at least a portion of the target sequence; and (c) detecting the presence of triplex DNA structures. The detection is suitably effected directly, for example using a surface plasmon resonance detector.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the temperature of a biochemical reaction such as an amplification reaction is described. The method comprises effecting the reaction in the presence of a fluorescently labeled temperature probe DNA sequence which comprises a double stranded region which denatures at a predetermined temperature, the fluorescent label of said temperature probe sequence being arranged so that a detectable signal occurs at the point at which denaturation of said region takes places; and monitoring fluorescence from said reaction mixture so as to determine when said predetermined temperature has been reached.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the temperature of a biochemical reaction such as an amplification reaction is described. The method comprises effecting the reaction in the presence of a fluorescently labeled temperature probe DNA sequence which comprises a double stranded region which denatures at a predetermined temperature, the fluorescent label of said temperature probe sequence being arranged so that a detectable signal occurs at the point at which denaturation of said region takes places; and monitoring fluorescence from said reaction mixture so as to determine when said predetermined temperature has been reached.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the temperature of a biochemical reaction is disclosed. The method effects the reaction in the presence of a fluorescently labeled DNA probe which comprises a double stranded region which dentures at a predetermined temperature. The fluorescent label is arranged so that a detectable signal is generated upon denaturation of the probe.

Abstract: A method for amplifying a target DNA sequence, said method comprising amplifying said sequence in the presence of: a) a nucleic acid polymerase; b) at least one primer capable of hybridising to said target polynucleotide; c) an internal control sequence to which said primer is capable of hybridising and which is of similar length to the target DNA sequence but with a different percentage GC content; and d) label means for detecting the hybridisation of nucleic acids in the reaction; and detecting the hybridisation of the target and control sequences at different temperatures.