Abstract: The present disclosure provides, among other things, systems for nucleic acid amplification. Provided systems for nucleic acid amplification substantially irreversibly seal the contents of a nucleic acid amplification reaction vessel. Provided systems reduce amplification contamination, for example amplification carryover contamination. Provided systems reduce amplification of spurious nucleic acids or amplification products. The present disclosure also provides methods of amplifying nucleic acids. The present disclosure also provides methods of amplifying nucleic acids using provided systems. Provided systems and methods are useful for nucleic acid amplification.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, among other things, systems for nucleic acid amplification. Provided systems for nucleic acid amplification substantially irreversibly seal the contents of a nucleic acid amplification reaction vessel. Provided systems reduce amplification contamination, for example amplification carryover contamination. Provided systems reduce amplification of spurious nucleic acids or amplification products. The present disclosure also provides methods of amplifying nucleic acids. The present disclosure also provides methods of amplifying nucleic acids using provided systems. Provided systems and methods are useful for nucleic acid amplification.

Abstract: A temperature cycling system (10, 110) is provided for repeatedly heating and cooling a reaction mixture (16). The system (10, 110) includes a first heater (27) and a second heater (28) each movable between a first orientation in which the first or second heater (27, 28) affects the temperature of the reaction mixture (16) and a second orientation in which the first or second heater (27, 28) does not substantially affect the temperature of the reaction mixture (16). During temperature cycling, the second heater (28) is in the second orientation when the first heater (27) is in the first orientation, and the second heater (28) is in the first orientation when the first heater (27) is in the second orientation.

Abstract: A system is provided for carrying out rapid nucleic acid amplification or other biological reactions requiring thermal cycling. The system of this invention incorporates at least two heating blocks, each having a groove for receiving a reaction vessel such that only a portion of the outer surface of the walls of the vessel are in direct contact with the heating block. The remaining portion of the outer surface of the walls of the reaction vessel remains exposed to ambient conditions. The reaction vessel comes into contact with only one heating block at a time either by movement of the vessel between the heating blocks or by movement of the heating blocks in relation to the vessel. The system of this invention provides rapid temperature cycling without the need for extended ramping times generally associated with single block designs, which include a single temperature block that is forced to heat and cool.