Abstract: The present disclosure provides fully integrated microfluidic systems to perform nucleic acid analysis. These processes include sample collection, nucleic acid extraction and purification, amplification, sequencing, and separation and detection. The present disclosure also provides optical detection systems and methods for separation and detection of biological molecules. In particular, the various aspects of the invention enable the simultaneous separation and detection of a plurality of biological molecules, typically fluorescent dye-labeled nucleic acids, within one or a plurality of microfluidic chambers or channels. The nucleic acids can be labeled with at least 6 dyes, each having a unique peak emission wavelength. The present systems and methods are particularly useful for DNA fragment sizing applications such as human identification by genetic fingerprinting and DNA sequencing applications such as clinical diagnostics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a synthetic nucleic acid sequence which encodes a protein wherein at least one non-common codon or less-common codon is replaced by a common codon. The synthetic nucleic acid sequence can include a continuous stretch of at least 90 codons all of which are common codons.

Abstract: A fast, multiplexed PCR system is described that can rapidly generate amplified nucleic acid products, for example, a full STR profile, from a target nucleic acid. Such systems include, for example, microfluidic biochips and a custom built thermal cycler, which are also described. The resulting STR profiles can satisfy forensic guidelines for signal strength, inter-loci peak height balance, heterozygous peak height ratio, incomplete non-template nucleotide addition, and stutter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a synthetic nucleic acid sequence which encodes a protein wherein at least one non-common codon or less-common codon is replaced by a common codon. The synthetic nucleic acid sequence can include a continuous stretch of at least 90 codons all of which are common codons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transfected primary and secondary somatic cells of vertebrate origin, particularly mammalian origin, transfected with exogenous genetic material (DNA) which encodes erythropoietin or an insulinotropin [e.g., derivatives of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)], methods by which primary and secondary cells are transfected to include exogenous genetic material encoding erythropoietin or an insulinotropin, methods of producing clonal cell strains or heterogenous cell strains which express erythropoietin or an insulinotropin, methods of gene therapy in which the transfected primary or secondary cells are used, and methods of producing antibodies using the transfected primary or secondary cells.

Abstract: DNA molecules comprising a sequence encoding the signal peptide of hGH linked to a heterologous protein and related cells, methods and fusion proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of altering the concentration or level of expression of a desired gene product in a recipient subject which involves administering to a recipient a transkaryotic cell capable of expressing a desired gene when the cell is present within the subject. The invention further pertains to compounds produced by such cells, by transkaryotic animals in response to such cells, and to the uses of such compounds.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a synthetic nucleic acid sequence which encodes a protein wherein at least one non-common codon or less-common codon is replaced by a common codon. The synthetic nucleic acid sequence can include a continuous stretch of at least 90 codons all of which are common codons.

Abstract: The invention provides primary and secondary cells that are transfected with a nucleic acid molecule that encodes erythropoietin, clonal or heterogenous strains of such cells, and methods of producing these cell strains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transfected primary and secondary somatic cells of vertebrate origin, particularly mammalian origin, transfected with exogenous genetic material (DNA) which encodes a desired (e.g., a therapeutic) product or is itself a desired (e.g., therapeutic) product, methods by which primary and secondary cells are transfected to include exogenous genetic material, methods of producing clonal cell strains or heterogenous cell strains, methods of gene therapy in which the transfected primary or secondary cells are used, and methods of producing antibodies using the transfected primary or secondary cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transfected primary and secondary somatic cells of vertebrate origin, particularly mammalian origin, transfected with exogenous genetic material (DNA) that encodes erythropoietin or an insulinotropin (e.g., derivatives of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)), methods by which primary and secondary cells are transfected to include exogenous genetic material encoding erythropoietin or an insulinotropin, methods of producing clonal cell strains or heterogenous cell strains that express erythropoietin or an insulinotropin, methods of gene therapy, in which the transfected primary or secondary cells are used, and methods of producing antibodies using the transfected primary or secondary cells.

Abstract: The invention features constructs and related methods for expression of products in mammalian cells, e.g., human cells. Constructs include a human &ggr;-actin, &bgr;-actin, fibronectin, YY1, or &bgr;-tubulin promoter region operably linked to a heterologous nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: A therepeutic method whereby an individual suspected of having an &agr;-galactosidase A deficiency, such as Fabry disease, is treated either with (1) human cells that have been genetically modified to overexpress and secrete human &agr;-gal A, or (2) purified human &agr;-gal A obtained from cultured, genetically modified human cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transfected primary, secondary, and immortalized cells of vertebrate origin particularly mammalian origin, transfected with exogenous genetic material (DNA) which encodes a desired (e.g., a therapeutic) product or is itself a desired (e.g., therapeutic) product, methods by which primary, secondary and immortalized cells are transfected to include exogenous genetic material, including DNA targeting by homologous recombination, methods for the activation and amplification of endogenous cellular genes, methods by which cells useful for large-scale protein production can be obtained, methods of producing clonal cell strains or heterogenous cell strains, and methods of gene therapy in which transfected primary, secondary or immortalized cells are used.

Abstract: The invention provides highly purified &agr;-Gal A, and various methods for purifying it; &agr;-Gal A preparations with altered charge and methods for making those preparations; &agr;-Gal A preparations that have an extended circulating half-life in a mammalian host, and methods for making same; and methods and dosages for administering an &agr;-Gal A preparation to a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA constructs that alter the expression of a targeted gene in a cell when the DNA construct is homologously recombined with a target site within the chromosomal DNA of the cell, as well as to a cell into which has been incorporated a new transcription unit containing an exogenous regulatory sequence operatively linked to an endogenous gene of the cell's chromosomal DNA. These constructs and cells can be used in a method of altering expression of the targeted gene.

Abstract: A therapeutic method whereby an individual suspected of having an &agr;-galactosidase A deficiency, such as Fabry disease, is treated either with (1) human cells that have been genetically modified to overexpress and secrete human &agr;-gal A, or (2) purified human &agr;-gal A obtained from cultured, genetically modified human cells.

Abstract: The invention provides highly purified &agr;-Gal A, and various methods for purifying it; &agr;-Gal A preparations with altered charge and methods for making those preparations; &agr;-Gal A preparations that have an extended circulating half-life in a mammalian host, and methods for making same; and methods and dosages for administering an &agr;-Gal A preparation to a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of gene or DNA targeting in cells of vertebrate, particularly mammalian, origin. That is, it relates to a method of introducing DNA into primary or secondary cells of vertebrate origin through homologous recombination or targeting of the DNA, which is introduced into genomic DNA of the primary or secondary cells at a preselected site. The present invention further relates to primary or secondary cells, referred to as homologously recombinant (HR) primary or secondary cells, produced by the present method and to uses of the homologously recombinant primary or secondary cells. The present invention also relates to a method of turning on a gene present in primary cells, secondary cells or immortalized cells of vertebrate origin, which is normally not expressed in the cells or is not expressed at significant levels in the cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transfected primary and secondary somatic cells of vertebrate origin, particularly mammalian origin, transfected with exogenous genetic material (DNA) that encodes erythropoietin or an insulinotropin (e.g., derivatives of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP 1)), methods by which primary and secondary cells are transfected to include exogenous genetic material encoding erythropoietin or an insulinotropin, methods of producing clonal cell strains or heterogenous cell strains that express erythropoietin or an insulinotropin, methods of gene therapy, in which the transfected primary or secondary cells are used, and methods of producing antibodies using the transfected primary or secondary cells.