Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for identifying or otherwise detecting a nucleotide repeat region having a particular length in a nucleic acid molecule. Varying lengths of the repeat region at particular genetic locations represent nucleotide length polymorphisms. The present invention provides, therefore, a method for identifying a nucleotide length polymorphism such as associated with a particular human individual or animal or mammalian subject or for a disease condition or a predisposition for a disease condition to develop in a particular individual or subject. The method of the present invention is also useful for identifying and/or typing micro-organisms including yeasts and lower uni- and multi-cellular organisms as well as prokaryotic micro-organisms. The method of the present invention is further useful in genotyping subjects including humans.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for detecting a nucleic acid molecule having a particular nucleotide sequence. Such a nucleic acid molecule is generally referred to as the “target” sequence or molecule. The method of the present invention generally comprises the use of competitive priming of pre- or post-amplified nucleic acid molecules. The nucleic acid molecules subjected to such primer interrogation are generally immobilized to a solid support by hybridization of a target molecule to a primer anchored to a solid phase. Amplimer-mediated bridging of a particular primer, -labelled or unlabelled, is then used to detect the presence of a primer having a selected sequence. The method of the present invention is useful in a range of applications including inter alia diagnosis, nucleotide sequencing and the screening for nucleic acid-modifying molecules such as carcinogens.