Abstract: Denaturation and hybridisation of double-stranded DNA is a crucial reaction in many biological processes, such as DNA replication. DNA denaturation and hybridisation can be controlled by e.g. temperature, altering the pH and ionic strength and different chemical agents. This reversible reaction also plays a role in many diagnostic-based methods and applications such as any nucleic acid amplification method. The present invention provides alternate means to control denaturation and hybridisation of nucleic acids comprising contacting a nucleic acid molecule with a compound capable of interacting with a nucleic acid molecule and altering the state or a property of the compound to achieve denaturation or hybridisation of the nucleic acid molecule.