Abstract: The invention relates to a molecular beacon in the form of a hairpin oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide analogue comprising a first nucleotide sequence containing two or more aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems P able to form an excimer or exciplex; a second sequence (the loop) consisting of an oligonucleotide probe able to hybridise with a target polynucleotide; and a third sequence containing one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems X, wherein at least one aromatic ring system X interacts with two aromatic ring systems P of the first sequence inhibiting excimer or exciplex formation. The invention further relates to a method for detecting the presence of a target polynucleotide using such a molecular beacon, and to a kit comprising a molecular beacon of the invention for use in this method.

Abstract: Provision is made, in a device and a process for the synthesis of macromolecules, for reagent solutions to be conveyed through reaction channels (15) which are connected to one another by intermediate channels (16, 17) and are preferably aligned parallel to one another, the reaction channels (15) being so displaced between individual synthesis steps relative to the carrier material acted on by the reagent solutions that, in the new position, the reaction channels (15) cover different synthesis zones from those in the previous position. In that manner provision is made for the synthesis of a large number of different sequences by relatively few synthesis steps.