Abstract: Disclosed is a method of quantifying a target nucleic acid in a test sample by adding to the test sample a known number of molecules of a corresponding nucleic acid comprising a well-defined mutant sequence. Said mutant sequence being discriminatory from the target nucleic acid. Subsequently a competitive amplification reaction of the nucleic acid is performed after which quantification of the amplified nucleic acid is performed by a differential detection.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to hybridization assays using enzyme-linked oligonucleotide probes, whereby hybridization is detected by separating the hybridized labelled oligonucleotide from the unhybridized probe by gel electrophoresis

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA) starting from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In the method of the invention, a double stranded DNA molecule is cleaved with a restriction endonuclease so as to generate a free 3'-end. The resultant DNA molecule is then denatured and hybridized with a primer that anneals to the 3'-end of the denatured DNA. The primer used in the hybridization contains a T7 promoter sequence at its 5'-end. Following the hybridization step, the 3'-ends of the resultant hybrid DNA molecule are extended with DNA polymerase to generate a template suitable for T7 RNA polymerase mediated RNA synthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process, a combination of means for isolating nucleic acid from a nucleic acid-containing starting material and a testkit in order to amplify the nucleic acid obtained by said process. More in particular, the invention relates to a process and a kit for isolating nucleic acid from a nucleic acid-containing biological material such as whole blood, blood serum, urine, feces, cell cultures and the like.