Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and kits for identification of testicular carcinoma in situ (CIS), gonadoblastoma (a CIS-like pre-cancerous lesion found in dysgenetic gonads) and CIS-derived cancers based on at least one of the biomarkers included in the invention. It also relates to diagnosis of a subject's status of the testicular carcinoma in situ and the derived cancers based on the measurement of a relative abundance of one of the biomarkers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vectors for use in transposon-based DNA sequencing methods, methods for DNA sequencing using such vectors and a method for preparing improved cloning vectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to 5′-modified nucleotides and to nucleic acids which contain these nucleotides. Processes for incorporating the 5′-modified nucleotides into nucleic acids, and the subsequent site-specific cleavage of the nucleic acids at the 5′-modified monomer building blocks, are also disclosed. These processes can be employed for nucleic acid sequencing, for generating nucleic acid libraries, for detecting mutations, for preparing support-bound nucleic acids and for pharmaceutical purposes.

Abstract: In the method moving a sample substance by means of a sample feeder (26) form a sample pickup site to a delivery site (20) of a sample processor (10), the invention proposes fitting the sample feeder (26) with at least one porous material element having a pore size such that the sample substance shall be kept in the liquid phase in the porous material at least during sample pickup by the sample feeder (26) and during sample delivery to the sample processor (10).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the sequence-specific labelling of nucleic acids comprising the generation of labelled nucleic acid fragments by an enzymatic labelling reaction in which a labelled deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate is attached to a nucleic acid primer molecule and the nucleic acid sequence is determined by means of the label, wherein the labelling reaction is carried out in a single reaction vessel with the simultaneous presence of one or several nucleic acid primer molecules and at least two labelled deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates which each contain different labelling groups and different bases and under conditions in which only one single type of labelled deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate can be attached to a nucleic acid primer molecule.

Abstract: In order to sequence nucleic acids one produces a mixture of labelled nucleic acid fragments of different length, using nucleic acid fragments which are labelled by incorporation of at least one deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate with a non-radioactive labelling group, separates the labelled nucleic acid fragments according to size and determines the nucleic acid sequence by means of the labelling of the individual fragments.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out chemical reaction sequences includes a stack of reaction plates arranged one above another and displaceable according to choice step by step in relation to one another, which are provided with passages arranged at the stepping interval, one of which passes in each case is formed as reaction chamber. A plate displacement device serves for the displacement of the respective plate, according to choice, in relation to the remaining plate stack. A pressure application part of a clamping device is provided with a faculty for movement of the plates in relation to one another between a pressure application position with sealing clamping together of the plates and a release position.

Abstract: For the sequencing of nucleic acids by enzymatic extension of an oligonucleotide primer in the presence of a polymerase, the four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates, one of the four dideoxynucleoside triphosphates and the nucleic acid to be sequenced as template in each of four different preparations, labelling of the nucleic acid fragments which form and which are dependent on the dideoxynucleoside triphosphate used, separation by gel electrophoresis of the preparations containing the fragments and detection of the sequence via the label, at least two of the dideoxynucleoside triphosphates are used in different amounts together in one preparation and the fragments are differentiated by the intensity of the labelling signal of the bands in the gel or in another separation procedure.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for performing work on cells of a cell culture which includes microinjecting cells in the cell culture or drawing liquid from an individual cell or withdrawing whole cells with the aid of suction from the cell culture. The system is computer-supported and a marker movable in the image on a monitor is superposed on a television image of the cell culture. The marker is positioned in the television image on the cell to be injected by the operator by means of a relative movement of the marker with respect to the image. The coordinates of the cells marked in this way are stored by the computer which thereafter advances the capillary point automatically to the selected cells and penetrates the latter.

Abstract: A method and a device are proposed for the injection of very small amounts of samples into cells (74) with the aid of a microcapillary (10). During the injection, a constant injection pressure of about 0.12 bar, provided by a pressurized cylinder (46) is applied ot the microcapillary (10), which is reduced after the completion of the injection to a holding pressure of 0.02 bar until the next cell (64) is to be injected. A high-pressure (p.sub.1) supplied from another pressurized cylinder (44) serves for blowing out the microcapillary tip (12). A three-way valve (42) permits simple and rapid switching between the various pressure (p.sub.1, p.sub.2 and p.sub.3). Reproducible amounts of sample in the range from 10.sup.-11 ml to 10.sup.-13 ml can be injected reprodicibly, simply and rapidly.

Abstract: A method and a device are proposed for the injection of very small amounts of samples into cells (74) with the aid of a microcapillary (10). During the injection, a constant injection pressure of about 0.12 bar, provided by a pressurized cylinder (46) is applied to the microcapillary (10), which is reduced after the completion of the injection to a holding pressure of 0.02 bar until the next cell (64) is to be injected. A high-pressure (p.sub.1) supplied from another pressurized cylinder (44) serves for blowing out the microcapillary tip (12). A three-way valve (42) permits simple and rapid switching between the various pressures (p.sub.1, p.sub.2 and p.sub.3). Reproducible amounts of sample in the range from 10.sup.-11 ml to 10.sup.-13 ml can be injected reproducibly, simply and rapidly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing thin layers, such as thin gel layers useful in electrophoresis, wherein a liquid layer material is introduced to the space defined between two parallel mold surfaces on first and second mold elements. Initially, the mold surfaces overlap each other to a small extent, and liquid is introduced to the space between the surfaces adjacent the leading edge of the top mold element. The mold elements are then shifted with respect to each other while maintaining their parallel relationship, and additional liquid layer-forming material is introduced to the space during the shift. In a preferred embodiment, a third mold element is situated adjacent to and spaced a small distance from the bottom mold element, and liquid material is introduced to the space between the bottom mold elements during shifting of the top mold.