Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for identifying a miRNA profile for a particular condition, such as lung cancer, and using the profile in assessing the condition of a patient.

Abstract: This application describes methods of quantifying a target miRNA in a biological sample by measuring the amounts of a target miRNA and at least one reference oncomir in a reaction volume, and normalizing the amount of target miRNA to the amount of one or more reference oncomirs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the amount of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, the method comprising: obtaining multiple distinguishable amplicons of the target nucleic acid sequence, each comprising a distinguishing tag and a target portion; amplifying the amplicons in a single reaction volume; and detecting nucleic acids amplified from the amplicons. Detection of the distinguishable amplicons can be varied in each of the steps of the method, which expands the dynamic range of the nucleic acid quantification methods and improves the reliability and accuracy of the methods.

Abstract: Improved ball mill disruption techniques. In different embodiments, disrupting particles that are not substantially spherical are used. In other embodiments, roughened disrupting particles are used. In other embodiments, larger disrupting particles are used. In each instance, improved disruption can be achieved.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of detecting one or more RNA by reverse transcribing one or more RNA target using one or more reverse transcription primer comprising in a 5? to 3? direction (i) a primer segment, (ii) a probe segment distinct from the primer segment, and (iii) a 3? target specific segment that anneals to a RNA target; amplifying one or more RNA from the reverse transcription reaction using a first amplification primer that anneals to the 3? end of a reverse transcribed RNA target and a second primer that anneals to a sequence complementary to the primer segment; and detecting amplification of a target nucleic acid.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for inhibiting and/or inactivating nucleases by using nuclease inhibitors are provided. The nuclease inhibitors comprise anti-nuclease antibodies and non-antibody nuclease inhibitors.