Abstract: A method for assessing the status of degradation and/or integrity of one or more nucleic acids in a sample, which includes amplifying at least two overlapping regions within at least one locus and detecting the amount of the amplification products using at least two probes, where one probe binds to an overlapping region and the other probe binds to a non-overlapping region. Also, a method of designing primers and/or probes for amplifying at least two overlapping regions within at least one single copy locus or multicopy locus. Also a primer and a primer pair for amplifying at least two overlapping regions from one nucleic acid template which is a multicopy locus present in loci in the human genome. Also a kit including primers and/or probes for assessing the status of degradation and/or integrity of one or more nucleic acids in a sample.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide primers and probes for quantifying and/or detecting human male DNA in a forensic sample. The oligonucleotides are useful for amplifying a multicopy locus within the human Y-chromosome (MCL-Y) that shares at least 80% sequence identity to a sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 3 over a stretch of at least 60 base pairs. The oligonucleotides hybridize under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid having at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 3 to SEQ ID NO. 11 and/or SEQ ID NO. 17 to SEQ ID NO. 25. Kits including the oligonucleotide primers, probes and/or primer pairs and reagents for performing an amplification reaction on DNA recovered from a forensic sample are also disclosed.

Abstract: A kit for use in assessing the status of nucleic acid degradation and/or the integrity of one or more nucleic acids in a sample by amplifying at least two overlapping regions within at least one locus and detecting the amount of the at least two amplification products. The kit includes a primer and at least two probes that bind under stringent conditions to a sequence that shares at least 80% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the group of sequences consisting of SEQ ID NO. 6 to SEQ ID NO. 47 over a stretch of 80 base pairs, or to a reverse complement thereof. One of the at least two probes binds to one of the at least two overlapping regions and the other of the at least two probes binds to a non-overlapping region.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide suitable for use as a detection probe in a method for evaluating the amplification efficiency, the presence of inhibitors, degradation and/or for performing a quantification analysis of a target nucleic acid in a real-time amplification reaction. The oligonucleotide probe is preferably SEQ ID NO. 4, a reverse complement of SEQ ID NO. 4, an oligonucleotide that shares 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO. 4, or an oligonucleotide that shares 95% sequence identity with a reverse complement of SEQ ID NO. 4. Also a kit including an internal nucleic acid control template, a set of primers for amplifying the internal nucleic acid control template, and the oligonucleotide probe.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a composition for performing an amplification reaction of a nucleic acid template, the composition comprising: a) a buffer, b) a DNA polymerase, c) one or more primers and d) a mixture of deoxynucleotides (dNTPs), wherein the mixture of dNTPs comprises a higher dATP concentration than that of either dGTP, dCTP or dTTP. A second aspect of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a method for amplification of a target sequence, the method comprising the steps of: a) performing a PCR amplification using the composition according to the first aspect and its embodiments of the present invention, thereby obtaining a PCR product, b) determining the presence of the target sequence in the PCR product. A third aspect of the invention disclosed herein is directed to primer or set of primers for detecting a target sequence, wherein the primer or each primer in the set of primers comprises a 5?-end G.

Abstract: PCR that allows the researchers to amplify a desired DNA requiring only tiny amounts of sample. Such amplification reactions are technically challenging and are often hampered by several practical issues such as the presence of PCR inhibitors, sample degradation and low quantities of said sample. The invention addresses these issues with a method for evaluating the amplification efficiency and/or the presence of inhibitors and/or degradation and/or performing a quantification of a nucleic acid in a real-time amplification reaction comprising: optionally amplifying in a reaction composition a first target nucleic acid using a first primer pair in a real-time amplification reaction, (i) amplifying in said reaction composition one or more second internal nucleic acid control templates (IC) with a length of between 50 and 2000 nucleotides, wherein the second nucleic acid has a sequence selected from the group of: i) SEQ ID NO.

Abstract: A kit for use in assessing the status of nucleic acid degradation and/or the integrity of one or more nucleic acids in a sample by amplifying at least two overlapping regions within at least one locus and detecting the amount of the at least two amplification products. The kit includes a primer and at least two probes that bind under stringent conditions to a sequence that shares at least 80% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the group of sequences consisting of SEQ ID NO. 6 to SEQ ID NO. 47 over a stretch of 80 base pairs, or to a reverse complement thereof. One of the at least two probes binds to one of the at least two overlapping regions and the other of the at least two probes binds to a non-overlapping region.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide primers and probes for quantifying and/or detecting human male DNA in a forensic sample. The oligonucleotides are useful for amplifying a multicopy locus within the human Y-chromosome (MCL-Y) that shares at least 80% sequence identity to a sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 3 over a stretch of at least 60 base pairs. The oligonucleotides hybridize under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid having at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 3 to SEQ ID NO. 11 and/or SEQ ID NO. 17 to SEQ ID NO. 25. Kits including the oligonucleotide primers, probes and/or primer pairs and reagents for performing an amplification reaction on DNA recovered from a forensic sample are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assessing the status of nucleic acid degradation and/or integrity of one or more nucleic acids in a sample, comprising the steps amplifying at least two overlapping regions within at least one locus (e.g. by heminested or nested PCR), and detecting the amount of the at least two amplification products through the use of at least two probes, wherein one probe binds to the region of overlap and the at least one other probe binds to a non-overlapping region. The invention further relates to a method of designing primers and/or probes for amplifying at least two overlapping regions within at least one locus, wherein the locus that is amplified is a single copy locus (SCL) or multicopy locus (MLC). The invention also relates to a primer and a primer pair for amplifying at least two overlapping regions from one nucleic acid template which is a multicopy locus present in 21 loci in the human genome. These primers and probes may be in a kit.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for detecting and/or quantifying male genomic DNA in a sample, wherein the method comprises the step of amplification of a multicopy locus within the human Y-chromosome (MCL-Y), wherein said locus shares at least 80% sequence identity to a sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 3 over a stretch of at least 60 base pairs (bp). A second aspect of the present invention relates to a primer or primer pair which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 3 and/or any of 4 to 11. The invention also relates to a kit.

Abstract: PCR that allows the researchers to amplify a desired DNA requiring only tiny amounts of sample. Such amplification reactions are technically challenging and are often hampered by several practical issues such as the presence of PCR inhibitors, sample degradation and low quantities of said sample. The invention addresses these issues with a method for evaluating the amplification efficiency and/or the presence of inhibitors and/or degradation and/or performing a quantification of a nucleic acid in a real-time amplification reaction comprising: optionally amplifying in a reaction composition a first target nucleic acid using a first primer pair in a real-time amplification reaction, (i) amplifying in said reaction composition one or more second internal nucleic acid control templates (IC) with a length of between 50 and 2000 nucleotides, wherein the second nucleic acid has a sequence selected from the group of: i) SEQ ID NO.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assessing the status of nucleic acid degradation and/or integrity of one or more nucleic acids in a sample, comprising the steps amplifying at least two overlapping regions within at least one locus (e.g. by heminested or nested PCR), and detecting the amount of the at least two amplification products through the use of at least two probes, wherein one probe binds to the region of overlap and the at least one other probe binds to a non-overlapping region. The invention further relates to a method of designing primers and/or probes for amplifying at least two overlapping regions within at least one locus, wherein the locus that is amplified is a single copy locus (SCL) or multicopy locus (MLC). The invention also relates to a primer and a primer pair for amplifying at least two overlapping regions from one nucleic acid template which is a multicopy locus present in 21 loci in the human genome. These primers and probes may be in a kit.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for detecting and/or quantifying male genomic DNA in a sample, wherein the method comprises the step of amplification of a multicopy locus within the human Y-chromosome (MCL-Y), wherein said locus shares at least 80% sequence identity to a sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 3 over a stretch of at least 60 base pairs (bp). A second aspect of the present invention relates to a primer or primer pair which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 3 and/or any of 4 to 11. The invention also relates to a kit.