Abstract: Methods for improving sensitivity and specificity of polynucleotide synthesis are disclosed. The method includes reversibly blocking thermophilic polymerase activity with non-nucleic acid polyanions in a temperature dependent manner. The methods control target specific primer extension throughout all stages of a DNA or RNA amplification reaction. Corresponding compositions and kits are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for improving sensitivity and specificity of polynucleotide synthesis are disclosed. The method includes reversibly blocking thermophilic polymerase activity with non-nucleic acid polyanions in a temperature dependent manner. The methods control target specific primer extension throughout all stages of a DNA or RNA amplification reaction. Corresponding compositions and kits are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for improving sensitivity and specificity of polynucleotide synthesis are disclosed. The method includes reversibly blocking thermophilic polymerase activity with non-nucleic acid polyanions in a temperature dependent manner. The methods control target specific primer extension throughout all stages of a DNA or RNA amplification reaction. Corresponding compositions and kits are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention describes a method and its use for producing complex multienzymatical, storage resistant reaction mixtures for synthesizing, modifying or analyzing polypeptides and optionally nucleic acids characterized in that native or artificial enzymatical, active protein mixtures with reaction buffers, cofactors and substrates are prepared so that they are ready for use and are storage resistant such that only user-specific key components (e.g. mRNS) are missing to start the desired enzymatical reaction(s). In the method a stabilizer is added to the reaction mixtures in the solution which, on the one hand, increases the reacting capacity of the multienzymatical systems and, on the other hand, protects the unstable reaction components from losing their biological activity or their biologically active structure while being made storage resistant and during storage. The reaction mixture is made storage resistant by being easily freeze dried under a vacuum and then durably stored at 4-10° C.

Abstract: A universal process is disclosed for extracting and purifying nucleic acids from extremely small amounts of highly contaminated various biological and other starting materials. The invention has applications in forensic medicine, medical diagnosis, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetic technology and all related fields. The process is characterized in that nucleic acid-containing materials are lysed, the lysate is incubated with a non-porous, non-structured, highly disperse, homogeneous and chemically pure SiO.sub.2 substrate, the substrate is isolated with the bound nucleic acids and washed with a buffer solution, then the nucleic acids are dissolved from the substrate by a buffer with a lower salt concentration. Lysis of the material and nucleic acid immobilization are preferably carried out in a reaction vessel. The substrate particles have a size of 7-40 nm, preferably 40 nm, and a specific surface from 50-300 g/m.sup.2, preferably 50 g/m.sup.2.