Abstract: The invention involves methods and materials for detecting a mutation in the genome of an organism. Specifically, the invention provides compositions of oligonucleotides and diagnostic kits that can be used to amplify nucleic acid sequences such that if heterologous amplified fragments are present, then stable nucleic acid branching structures are formed and detected from a cell lysate mixture containing the amplified nucleic acid. The formation of stable nucleic acid branching structures is particularly useful for providing a mechanism to detect heterologous alleles verses homozygous alleles since homozygous amplified products do not form stable nucleic acid branching structures. In addition, the invention provides methods of detecting heterologous Factor V alleles as well as homozygous wild-type and homozygous mutant Factor V alleles.