Abstract: A process for freeze drying a material. The process has the steps of (a) placing material to be freeze-dried in a vessel, the vessel comprising a container having a base, and at least one wall defining an opening at one end; (b) applying a membrane to the at least one wall to thereby cover the opening, wherein the membrane comprises an aperture which, in use, is aligned with the opening; and (c) subjecting the vessel to a lyophilisation procedure, wherein the membrane is in place on the container during the lyophilisation procedure.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the temperature of a biochemical reaction such as an amplification reaction is described. The method comprises effecting the reaction in the presence of a fluorescently labeled temperature probe DNA sequence which comprises a double stranded region which denatures at a predetermined temperature, the fluorescent label of said temperature probe sequence being arranged so that a detectable signal occurs at the point at which denaturation of said region takes places; and monitoring fluorescence from said reaction mixture so as to determine when said predetermined temperature has been reached.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, said method comprising: (a) adding to a sample suspected of containing said target nucleic acid sequence, a probe specific for said target sequence and DNA duplex binding agent, said probe comprising a reactive molecule able to absorb fluorescence from or donate fluorescent energy to said DNA duplex binding agent, (b) subjecting the thus formed mixture to an amplification reaction in which target nucleic acid is amplified, (c) subjecting said sample to conditions under which the said probe hybridizes to the target sequence, and (d) monitoring fluorescence from said sample. This method can be used for example to monitor amplification reactions such as PCR reactions, such that the amount of target sequence present in the sample may be determined.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the temperature of a biochemical reaction such as an amplification reaction is described. The method comprises effecting the reaction in the presence of a fluorescently labeled temperature probe DNA sequence which comprises a double stranded region which denatures at a predetermined temperature, the fluorescent label of said temperature probe sequence being arranged so that a detectable signal occurs at the point at which denaturation of said region takes places; and monitoring fluorescence from said reaction mixture so as to determine when said predetermined temperature has been reached.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the temperature of a biochemical reaction is disclosed. The method effects the reaction in the presence of a fluorescently labeled DNA probe which comprises a double stranded region which dentures at a predetermined temperature. The fluorescent label is arranged so that a detectable signal is generated upon denaturation of the probe.

Abstract: A method for amplifying a target DNA sequence, said method comprising amplifying said sequence in the presence of: a) a nucleic acid polymerase; b) at least one primer capable of hybridising to said target polynucleotide; c) an internal control sequence to which said primer is capable of hybridising and which is of similar length to the target DNA sequence but with a different percentage GC content; and d) label means for detecting the hybridisation of nucleic acids in the reaction; and detecting the hybridisation of the target and control sequences at different temperatures.

Abstract: The use of incubation means for the controlled heating of biological materials, said means comprising an electrically conducting polymer connectable to a power supply, said polymer being either contiguous or integral with an incubation vessel, or adapted to be in thermal contact with an incubation vessel. Incubation apparatus including such means and a method for culturing biological materials using them are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, said method comprising: (a) adding to a sample suspected of containing said target nucleic acid sequence, a probe specific for said target sequence and DNA duplex binding agent, said probe comprising a reactive molecule able to absorb fluorescence from or donate fluorescent energy to said DNA duplex binding agent, (b) subjecting the thus formed mixture to an amplification reaction in which target nucleic acid is amplified, (c) subjecting said sample to conditions under which the said probe hybridises to the target sequence, and (d) monitoring fluorescence from said sample. This method can be used for example to monitor amplification reactions such as PCR reactions, such that the amount of target sequence present in the sample may be determined.

Abstract: A reaction vessel for holding reagents, the vessel made of electrically conducting polymer capable of emitting heat when an electric current is passed through it. The reaction vessel includes a reagent container, such as a capillary tube, slide or chip, in close contact with the electrically conducting polymer. The polymer may be in the form of a film which is wrapped around the tube to form a sheath. This provides a readily controllable heating supply which may be heated and cooled to desired temperatures rapidly. An apparatus suitable for thermal cycling reactions, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) including one or more reaction vessels as well as methods for carrying out such reactions are also described.

Abstract: A reaction vessel for holding reagents is described, which vessel comprises an electrically conducting polymer capable of emitting heat when an electric current is passed through it. Suitably the reaction vessel comprises a reagent container, such as a capillary tube, slide or chip, in close contact with the electrically conducting polymer. For example, the polymer may be in the form of a film which is wrapped around the tube to form a sheath. This provides a readily controllable heating supply which may be heated and cooled to desired temperatures rapidly. An apparatus suitable for thermal cycling reactions, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and comprising one or more reaction vessels as described above, as well as methods for carrying out such reactions are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting reactions, said apparatus comprising a plurality of reaction vessels for holding reagents, an electrically conducting polymer which emits heat when an electric current is passed through it, and control means for controlling supply of current to the polymer, the polymer being connectable to an electrical supply via the control means. The control means may be arranged such that different currents and therefore different temperatures can be achieved in each reaction vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting reactions comprising a plurality of reaction vessels for holding reagents, an electrically conducting polymer which emits heat when an electric current is passed through it, and control device for controlling supply of current to the polymer, the polymer being connectable to an electrical supply via the control device. The control device may be arranged such that different currents and therefore different temperatures can be achieved in each reaction vessel. Certain novel reaction vessels are described and claimed. The apparatus are reaction vessels may be used in carrying out reactions which require multiple temperature stages such as amplification reactions such as the polymerase chain reaction.