Abstract: Provided are methods for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of short tandem repeat (STR) loci that can be used to rapidly generate a highly specific STR profile from target nucleic acids. The resulting STR profiles are useful for human identification purposes in law enforcement, homeland security, military, intelligence, and paternity testing applications.

Abstract: Provided are methods for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of short tandem repeat (STR) loci that can be used to rapidly generate a highly specific STR profile from target nucleic acids. The resulting STR profiles are useful for human identification purposes in law enforcement, homeland security, military, intelligence, and paternity testing applications.

Abstract: Provided are methods for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of short tandem repeat (STR) loci that can be used to rapidly generate a highly specific STR profile from target nucleic acids. The resulting STR profiles are useful for human identification purposes in law enforcement, homeland security, military, intelligence, and paternity testing applications.

Abstract: Provided are methods for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of short tandem repeat (STR) loci that can be used to rapidly generate a highly specific STR profile from target nucleic acids. The resulting STR profiles are useful for human identification purposes in law enforcement, homeland security, military, intelligence, and paternity testing applications.

Abstract: Provided are methods for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of short tandem repeat (STR) loci that can be used to rapidly generate a highly specific STR profile from target nucleic acids. The resulting STR profiles are useful for human identification purposes in law enforcement, homeland security, military, intelligence, and paternity testing applications.

Abstract: Methods and materials are disclosed for use in simultaneously amplifying at least thirteen loci of genomic DNA in a single multiplex reaction, as are methods and materials for use in the analysis of the products of such reactions. Included in the present invention are materials and methods for the simultaneous amplification of at least thirteen short tandem repeat loci, including specific materials and methods for the analysis of thirteen such loci specifically selected by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation as core loci for use in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to materials and methods for the identification and analysis of intermediate tandem repeat sequences in DNA, wherein an intermediate tandem repeat (ITR) sequence is a region of a DNA sequence containing at least one five to seven base repeat unit appearing in tandem at least two times. DNA markers to highly polymorphic ITR loci in the human genome are identified and analyzed, using particularly preferred embodiments of the materials and methods of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the simultaneous amplification of multiple distinct genetic loci using PCR or other amplification systems to determine in one reaction the alleles of each locus contained within the multiplex.

Abstract: The present invention entails methods and kits for carrying them out based on the discovery that an RNA replicase, such as Q&bgr; replicase, has DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (“DDRP”) activity with nucleic acid segments, including DNA segments and DNA:RNA chimeric segments, which comprise a 2′-deoxyribonucleotide or an analog thereof and which have sequences of RNAs that are autocatalytically replicatable by the replicase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the simultaneous amplification of multiple distinct genetic loci using PCR or other amplification systems to determine in one reaction the alleles of each locus contained within the multiplex.

Abstract: The present invention entails methods, and kits for carrying them out, based on the discovery that an RNA replicase, such as Q&bgr; replicase, has DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (“DDRP”) activity with nucleic acid segments, including DNA segments and DNA:RNA chimeric segments, which comprise a 2′-deoxyribonucleotide or an analog thereof and which have sequences of RNAs that are autocatalytically replicatable by the replicase. The discovery of this DDRP activity provides methods of the invention for nucleic acid amplification wherein a nucleic acid, with a DNA segment with the sequence of an RNA that is autocatalytically replicatable by an RNA replicase, is provided as a substrate for the replicase. The replicase catalyzes synthesis, from the DNA segment, of the RNA, which the replicase then autocatalytically replicates. The invention entails use of the amplification methods in detecting nucleic acid analytes, as in nucleic acid probe hybridization assays.

Abstract: Methods and materials are disclosed for use in simultaneously amplifying at least thirteen loci of genomic DNA in a single multiplex reaction, as are methods and materials for use in the analysis of the products of such reactions. Included in the present invention are materials and methods for the simultaneous amplification of at least thirteen short tandem repeat loci, including specific materials and methods for the analysis of thirteen such loci specifically selected by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation as core loci for use in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database.

Abstract: The present invention entails methods, and kits for carrying them out, based on the discovery that an RNA replicase, such as Q&bgr; replicase, has DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (“DDRP”) activity with nucleic acid segments, including DNA segments and DNA:RNA chimeric segments, which comprise a 2′-deoxyribonucleotide or an analog thereof and which have sequences of RNAs that are autocatalytically replicatable by the replicase. The discovery of this DDRP activity provides methods of the invention for nucleic acid amplification wherein a nucleic acid, with a DNA segment with the sequence of an RNA that is autocatalytically replicatable by an RNA replicase, is provided as a substrate for the replicase. The replicase catalyzes synthesis, from the DNA segment, of the RNA, which the replicase then autocatalytically replicates. The invention entails use of the amplification methods in detecting nucleic acid analytes, as in nucleic acid probe hybridization assays.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to materials and methods for the identification and analysis of intermediate tandem repeat sequences in DNA, wherein an intermediate tandem repeat (ITR) sequence is a region of a DNA sequence containing at least one five to seven base repeat unit appearing in tandem at least two times. DNA markers to highly polymorphic ITR loci in the human genome are identified and analyzed, using particularly preferred embodiments of the materials and methods of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to materials and methods for the identification and analysis of intermediate tandem repeat sequences in DNA, wherein an intermediate tandem repeat (ITR) sequence is a region of a DNA sequence containing at least one five to seven base repeat unit appearing in tandem at least two times. DNA markers to highly polymorphic ITR loci in the human genome are identified and analyzed, using particularly preferred embodiments of the materials and methods of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the simultaneous amplification of multiple distinct genetic loci using PCR or other amplification systems to determine in one reaction the alleles of each locus contained within the multiplex.

Abstract: Allelic ladders of short tandem repeat (STR) loci selected from the group consisting of D16S539, D7S820, D13S317, and D5S818; methods for their use in analyzing STR polymorphisms, and kits containing the allelic ladders are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel, single-stranded DNA probe which comprises an anti-target segment, a strand of a promoter, and a reporter segment, arranged so that a target segment, which has a 3'-hydroxyl at its terminus, can prime DNA polymerase-catalyzed extension of the target segment along the probe as template, when the target segment is hybridized to the anti-target segment of the probe, to provide an extension product from which transcripts, with the sequence complementary to that of the reporter segment of the probe, can be made by transcription from the promoter corresponding to the promoter segment of the probe. The transcripts, optionally after further amplification or other processing, can be detected. In one embodiment of the invention, the transcripts will be autocatalytically replicatable by an RNA replicase such as Q.beta. replicase.

Abstract: The present invention entails methods, and kits for carrying them out, based on the discovery that an RNA replicase, such as Q.beta. replicase, has DNA-dependent RNA polymerase ("DDRP") activity with nucleic acid segments, including DNA segments and DNA:RNA chimeric segments, which comprise a 2'-deoxyribonucleotide or an analog thereof and which have sequences of RNAs that are autocatalytically replicatable by the replicase. The discovery of this DDRP activity provides methods of the invention for nucleic acid amplification wherein a nucleic acid, with a DNA segment with the sequence of an RNA that is autocatalytically replicatable by an RNA replicase, is provided as a substrate for the replicase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the simultaneous amplification of multiple distinct genetic loci using PCR or other amplification systems to determine in one reaction the alleles of each of the loci contained within the multiplex.