Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate using a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid, and using a dispensing head. The head has a reservoir chamber and at least one jet which can dispense droplets onto a substrate. The jet includes a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, which delivery chamber has an orifice. The jet further includes an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice. The method includes loading the head by positioning the head with the orifice adjacent and facing a biomonomer or biopolymer fluid, and providing a load pressure to the reservoir chamber. The load pressure is sufficiently negative such that the fluid is drawn into the reservoir chamber through the orifice and delivery chamber, while simultaneously being insufficient to result in ambient atmosphere entering the delivery chamber through the orifice once the head has been loaded and no further fluid is facing and adjacent the orifice.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for predicting the potential of an oligonucleotide to hybridize to a target nucleotide sequence. A predetermined number of unique oligonucleotides is identified. The unique oligonucleotides are chosen to sample the entire length of a nucleotide sequence that is hybridizable with the target nucleotide sequence. At least one parameter that is independently predictive of the ability of each of the oligonucleotides of the set to hybridize to the target nucleotide sequence is determined and evaluated for each of the above oligonucleotides. A subset of oligonucleotides within the predetermined number of unique oligonucleotides is identified based on the evaluation of the parameter. Oligonucleotides in the subset are identified that are clustered along a region of the nucleotide sequence that is hybridizable to the target nucleotide sequence. The method may be carried out with the aid of a computer.

Abstract: Methods and reagents are disclosed which satisfy the need for more sensitive, more accurate and higher through-put analyses of target nucleic acid sequences. The methods and reagents may be generically applied to generally any target nucleic acid sequence and do not require a priori information about the presence, location or identity of mutations in the target nucleic acid sequence. The reagents of the invention are mixtures of natural and mass-modified oligonucleotide precursors having a high level of coverage and mass number complexity. A method is also disclosed for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence employing the mixtures of natural and mass-modified oligonucleotide precursors and chemical or enzymatic assays to alter the mass of the oligonucleotide precursors prior to mass spectral analysis, generally via MALDI-TOF. The enzymatic assay may be a polymerase extension assay or a ligase assay. The kits for carrying out the methods of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A motion detection scheme is described which periodically sends a plurality of pulsed ultrasonic signals from a transducer to a particular range cell to receive a series of backscattered signals from the particular range cell. The time interval between any two pulses is greater than a largest dimension of the range cell divided by a slowest velocity of motion at the particular range cell. A temporal variation between the envelopes of the signals is then determined to detect motion at the particular range cell. This scheme may be applied at all points in an image, to produce images that depict regions undergoing motion.