Abstract: A method of characterizing telomere length. A template may be synthesized in a bulk phase reaction mixture containing genomic DNA. Partitions may be formed after synthesizing the template in the bulk phase reaction mixture, with only a subset of the partitions containing at least one copy of the template. At least a region of the template may be amplified in partitions. Amplification data may be collected from partitions. A measure of telomere length may be determined for the genomic DNA based on the amplification data. In some embodiments, the bulk phase reaction mixture may be thermally cycled for at least two cycles, and heated to a denaturation temperature and cooled to an annealing temperature in each cycle.

Abstract: Digital assay system, including methods and apparatus, for characterizing telomere length.

Abstract: The present invention provides for methods of detecting mycoplasma, for example in cell culture media.

Abstract: The generation and extensive synthesis (“amplification”) of a cDNA sequence of interest is attained through a linked series of multi-cycle primer extension reactions (RT-LLA). The primers used in each of the primer extension reactions of the process contain non-replicable and, in some cases non-replicable and cleavable, elements that halt nucleic acid synthesis and thereby prevent the synthesized molecules from serving as templates in subsequent cycles. Synthesized molecules accumulate during primer extension in a mathematically linear fashion, thereby rendering the process relatively insensitive to contaminating nucleic acids. Multiple primer sets are employed, and simultaneously included in the reaction mixture, thereby ensuring the accumulation of a large number of copies of the cDNA sequence of interest.

Abstract: The extensive synthesis (“amplification”) of a nucleic acid sequence of interest is attained through a linked series of multi-cycle primer extension reactions (LLA). The primers used in each of the primer extension reactions of the process contain non-replicable and/or cleavable elements that halt nucleic acid synthesis and thereby prevent the synthesized molecules from serving as templates in subsequent cycles. Synthesized molecules accumulate during primer extension in a mathematically linear fashion, thereby rendering the process relatively insensitive to contaminating nucleic acids. Multiple primer sets are employed, and simultaneously included in the reaction mixture, thereby ensuring the accumulation of a large number of copies of the nucleic acid sequence of interest. The invention also provides for the detection of an amplified nucleic acid sequence of interest, as well as reagent kits for carrying out the reaction.

Abstract: A rapid, non-radioactive approach to the diagnosis of sickle cell anemia is described based on an allele specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) in which the 3'-terminal nucleotide of one of the primers of the primer set forms a match with one allele and a mismatch with the other allele. This method allows the direct detection of the normal or the sickle cell .beta.-globin allele in genomic DNA without the additional steps of probe hybridization, ligation or restriction enzyme cleavage.