Patents by Inventor Ian J. McLaughlin

Ian J. McLaughlin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method of reducing non-specific amplification in PCR
    Patent number: 6783940
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for reducing non-specific amplification DNA in a polymerase chain reaction comprising providing a sample comprising a target DNA sequence of interest; contacting the sample with at least one enzyme having nucleic acid polymerase activity; and incubating the sample with said enzyme for a time and under conditions sufficient to amplify the target DNA sequence, forming amplified target sequence; wherein the incubation is performed in the presence of an amount of sorbitol, or sorbitol and DMSO effective to reduce the non-specific amplification relative to the amount of non-specific amplification observed in the absence of sorbitol, or sorbitol and DMSO. The methods are suitable for amplification of ribosomal DNA, particularly from clinical samples. Compositions and kits containing sorbitol, or sorbitol and DMSO for reducing non-specific amplification are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Ian J. McLaughlin, Sulekha Rao Coticone, Will Bloch
  • Method of reducing non-specific amplification in PCR
    Publication number: 20030104395
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for reducing non-specific amplification DNA in a polymerase chain reaction comprising providing a sample comprising a target DNA sequence of interest; contacting the sample with at least one enzyme having nucleic acid polymerase activity; and incubating the sample with said enzyme for a time and under conditions sufficient to amplify the target DNA sequence, forming amplified target sequence; wherein the incubation is performed in the presence of an amount of sorbitol, or sorbitol and DMSO effective to reduce the non-specific amplification relative to the amount of non-specific amplification observed in the absence of sorbitol, or sorbitol and DMSO. The methods are suitable for amplification of ribosomal DNA, particularly from clinical samples. Compositions and kits containing sorbitol, or sorbitol and DMSO for reducing non-specific amplification are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Ian J. McLaughlin, Sulekha Rao Coticone, Will Bloch