Patents by Inventor Kevin J. McKernan

Kevin J. McKernan 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).

  • Publication number: 20220098637
    Abstract: A method for determining a level of one or more live microbes in a sample of a Cannabis plant includes (a) introducing a DNase enzyme into a sample including (i) Cannabis plant matrix derived from lysed cells of a Cannabis plant and (ii) live microbial cells including microbial genomic DNA, (b) introducing an anionic detergent into the sample, where the anionic detergent is in an amount effective to inactivate the DNase enzyme in the sample and lyse the live microbial cells in the sample, (c) introducing a known quantity of control DNA into the sample, (d) contacting the sample with a plurality of polynucleotide capture agents, (e) isolating the plurality of polynucleotide capture agents, thereby isolating polynucleotides from the microbial genomic DNA and/or control DNA in the sample, and (f) amplifying at least a portion of polynucleotides from the microbial genomic DNA isolated in step (e).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: MEDICINAL GENOMICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin J. MCKERNAN, Yvonne HELBERT, Heather EBLING
  • Patent number: 11035010
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and kits for characterizing Cannabis plants. Methods and kits of the present disclosure include detection/amplification of one or more enzymes involved in the production of cannabinoids, such as, for example, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) synthase and/or cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) synthase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: MEDICINAL GENOMICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kevin J. McKernan
  • Patent number: 10358673
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of removing amplicons of non target and/or target nucleic acid sequences having one or more modified (e.g., methylated) nucleotides from a sample wherein the sample comprises the non target nucleic acid and a target nucleic acid sequence to be amplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Courtagen Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin J. McKernan
  • Publication number: 20190185946
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and kits for characterizing Cannabis plants. Methods and kits of the present disclosure include detection/amplification of one or more enzymes involved in the production of cannabinoids, such as, for example, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) synthase and/or cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) synthase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: Kevin J. McKernan
  • Publication number: 20170073732
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of removing amplicons of non target and/or target nucleic acid sequences having one or more modified (e.g., methylated) nucleotides from a sample wherein the sample comprises the non target nucleic acid and a target nucleic acid sequence to be amplified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Kevin J. McKernan
  • Patent number: 9512472
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of removing amplicons of non target and/or target nucleic acid sequences having one or more modified (e.g., methylated) nucleotides from a sample wherein the sample comprises the non target nucleic acid and a target nucleic acid sequence to be amplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Courtagen Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin J. McKernan
  • Patent number: 9422594
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of removing amplicons of non target and/or target nucleic acid sequences having one or more modified (e.g., methylated) nucleotides from a sample wherein the sample comprises the non target nucleic acid and a target nucleic acid sequence to be amplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Courtagen Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin J. McKernan
  • Publication number: 20160230223
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of removing amplicons of non target and/or target nucleic acid sequences having one or more modified (e.g., methylated) nucleotides from a sample wherein the sample comprises the non target nucleic acid and a target nucleic acid sequence to be amplified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventor: Kevin J. McKernan
  • Patent number: 9309560
    Abstract: Methods for producing a paired tag from a nucleic acid sequence are provided in which the paired tag comprises the 5? end tag and 3? end tag of the nucleic acid sequence. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence comprises two restriction endonuclease recognition sites specific for a restriction endonuclease that cleaves the nucleic acid sequence distally to the restriction endonuclease recognition sites. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence further comprises restriction endonuclease recognition sites specific for a rare cutting restriction endonuclease. Methods of using paired tags are also provided. In one embodiment, paired tags are used to characterize a nucleic acid sequence. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence is a genome. In one embodiment, the characterization of a nucleic acid sequence is karyotyping. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the characterization of a nucleic acid sequence is mapping of the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas R. Smith, Joel A. Malek, Kevin J. McKernan
  • Publication number: 20140335569
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of removing amplicons of non target and/or target nucleic acid sequences having one or more modified (e.g., methylated) nucleotides from a sample wherein the sample comprises the non target nucleic acid and a target nucleic acid sequence to be amplified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Kevin J. McKernan
  • Publication number: 20110257019
    Abstract: The present invention provides microarrays of oligonucleotide primer pairs, and in particular, microarrays of primers that comprise at least one cleavable linkage. Also provided are methods to capture oligonucleotide primer pairs from one or more microarrays, and methods to use the captured oligonucleotide primer pairs, such as for amplification of a target polynucleotide sequence. In addition, methods of using a microarray to isolate, purify and/or amplify a target polynucleotide are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin J. McKernan, Alan Blanchard, Douglas R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110081687
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the enrichment of specific target sequences. Enrichment can be achieved through the formation of a heteroduplex that includes the specific target sequence and then the specific cleavage of the heteroduplex. A binding moiety is then added to the cleaved heteroduplex, allowing for the subsequent manipulation of the specific target sequence in the heteroduplex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: KEVIN J. MCKERNAN
  • Patent number: 7851158
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the enrichment of specific target sequences. Enrichment can be achieved through the formation of a heteroduplex that includes the specific target sequence and then the specific cleavage of the heteroduplex. A binding moiety is then added to the cleaved heteroduplex, allowing for the subsequent manipulation of the specific target sequence in the heteroduplex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin J. McKernan
  • Publication number: 20100298551
    Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods for producing a modified polynucleotide sequence that comprises a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage, methods for determining a polynucleotide sequence comprising a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage, and methods for separating forward and reverse extension products that comprise a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage. The invention also encompasses kits for producing and/or determining the sequence of a modified polynucleotide that comprises a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas R. Smith, Kevin J. McKernan
  • Publication number: 20100297628
    Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods for producing a modified polynucleotide sequence that comprises a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage, methods for determining a polynucleotide sequence comprising a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage, and methods for separating forward and reverse extension products that comprise a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage. The invention also encompasses kits for producing and/or determining the sequence of a modified polynucleotide that comprises a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas R. Smith, Kevin J. McKernan
  • Publication number: 20100028888
    Abstract: Methods for producing a paired tag from a nucleic acid sequence are provided in which the paired tag comprises the 5? end tag and 3? end tag of the nucleic acid sequence. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence comprises two restriction endonuclease recognition sites specific for a restriction endonuclease that cleaves the nucleic acid sequence distally to the restriction endonuclease recognition sites. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence further comprises restriction endonuclease recognition sites specific for a rare cutting restriction endonuclease. Methods of using paired tags are also provided. In one embodiment, paired tags are used to characterize a nucleic acid sequence. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence is a genome. In one embodiment, the characterization of a nucleic acid sequence is karyotyping. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the characterization of a nucleic acid sequence is mapping of the sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas R. Smith, Joel A. Malek, Kevin J. McKernan
  • Patent number: 7645866
    Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods for producing a modified polynucleotide sequence that comprises a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage, methods for determining a polynucleotide sequence comprising a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage, and methods for separating forward and reverse extension products that comprise a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage. The invention also encompasses kits for producing and/or determining the sequence of a modified polynucleotide that comprises a (e.g., one or more) phosphorothiolate linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas R. Smith, Kevin J. McKernan
  • Publication number: 20090280540
    Abstract: The present invention provides microarrays of oligonucleotide primer pairs, and in particular, microarrays of primers that comprise at least one cleavable linkage. Also provided are methods to capture oligonucleotide primer pairs from one or more microarrays, and methods to use the captured oligonucleotide primer pairs, such as for amplification of a target polynucleotide sequence. In addition, methods of using a microarray to isolate, purify and/or amplify a target polynucleotide are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: AV ADVANCED GENETIC ANALYISI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin J. McKernan, Alan Blanchard, Douglas R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20090191566
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of isolating a target species (e.g., target nucleic acid species) from a mixture. In the methods of the present invention, the mixture is combined with solid phase carriers having a surface comprising multiple functional groups one of which reversibly and selectively binds the target species. In a particular embodiment, the mixture is combined with solid phase carriers having a first functional group which reversibly binds nucleic acids and a second functional group which selectively and reversibly binds the target nucleic acid species, thereby producing a first combination. The first combination is maintained under conditions appropriate for binding of the nucleic acids to the first functional group and binding of the target nucleic acid species to the second functional group. The solid phase carriers are separated from the first combination, and combined with an agent (e.g., buffer) that selectively removes (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: AGENCOURT BIOSCIENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin J. McKernan, Erik Gustafson, Adrianne D. Brand
  • Patent number: 7527929
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of isolating a target species (e.g., target nucleic acid species) from a mixture. In the methods of the present invention, the mixture is combined with solid phase carriers having a surface comprising multiple functional groups one of which reversibly and selectively binds the target species. In a particular embodiment, the mixture is combined with solid phase carriers having a first functional group which reversibly binds nucleic acids and a second functional group which selectively and reversibly binds the target nucleic acid species, thereby producing a first combination. The first combination is maintained under conditions appropriate for binding of the nucleic acids to the first functional group and binding of the target nucleic acid species to the second functional group. The solid phase carriers are separated from the first combination, and combined with an agent (e.g., buffer) that selectively removes (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Agencourt Bioscience Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. McKernan, Erik Gustafson, Adrianne D. Brand