Abstract: An encoder for enabling selection of output bits that reduce run-length includes classification circuitry, a disparity control circuit, encoding circuitry, and a run-length control circuit. The classification circuitry is configured to receive data in a first bitwidth. An output of the classification circuitry is in communication with the disparity control circuit. The encoding circuitry is configured to encode the data received in the first bitwidth into a second bitwidth. The run-length control circuit is included in the encoding circuit and is selectively triggered in one coding scheme when a contiguous portion of the data of the first bitwidth is of a particular sequence, e.g., all logic ones, to generate a control signal. The run-length control circuit receives as additional inputs outputs of a portion of the encoding circuitry and a disparity signal from the current encoding cycle. The control signal, when generated, reduces run-length of the second bitwidth.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for obtaining additional information about DNA mixtures arising from a variety of sources and/or a variety of concentrations.

Abstract: A method of amplification of one or more DNA sequences in a DNA containing sample, and methods of investigating such samples are provided in which an improved amplification cycling regime is used. The regime features a first phase and a second phase, the first phase including a denaturation temperature step, followed by an annealing temperature step, followed by a corrected annealed primer extension temperature step, these steps being followed by an annealing temperature step, corrected annealed primer extension temperature step prior to any further denaturation temperature steps being applied. Increased amplification from a given number of amplification cycles and maximised sensitivity for the DNA amplification process is achieved as a result.

Abstract: A method of evaluating primers for use in the amplification of DNA sequences, a method of producing a mixture of primers for such a purpose and a method of amplifying a plurality of DNA sequences using a mixture of primers is provided in which the evaluation involves performing one or more initial evaluations, obtaining a plurality of SNP sites and related potential primer identities which are passes, generating primers corresponding to those primer identities and conducting a test amplification process using those primers in conjunction with a further evaluation of the results, the pass primers therefrom forming a pool of primer candidates from which one or more primers for use in the amplification of DNA sequences are selected.