Abstract: The present invention provides a method of isolating nucleic acid and protein from the same biological sample, comprising, in the following order: a) disrupting the biological sample; b) contacting the disrupted biological sample of (a) with a protein lysis buffer that lacks any component that denatures or reduces protein to produce a first lysate; c) centrifuging the first lysate of (b) to produce a first supernatant containing protein and a pellet containing nucleic acid; d) removing the first supernatant of (c), thereby isolating protein from the biological sample; e) contacting the pellet of (d) with nucleic acid lysis buffer to produce a second lysate; f) centrifuging the second lysate of (e) to produce a second supernatant containing nucleic acid; and g) removing the second supernatant of (f), thereby isolating nucleic acid from the same biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to methods and compositions for the detection and/or quantification of nucleic acid encoding ?-amylase in a sample. Provided herein are novel primer and probe compositions for use in detecting the presence of ?-amylase in an organism, particularly using quantitative PCR methods. Provided herein are novel oligonucleotide primers and probes, including the primers set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 and 4 and the novel oligonucleotide probe sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5, including variants, fragments and complements thereof, kits comprising these primer and probe sequences, and methods for using these primers and probes for the detection and/or quantification of ?-amylase in an organism, particularly a genetically-modified organism.