Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for quantifying a target nucleic acid by PCR. The present invention provides a method for quantifying a target nucleic acid by the polymerase chain reaction utilizing a template nucleic acid comprising a sequence of the target nucleic acid, a pair of primers for amplifying the target nucleic acid, and polymerase, wherein the polymerase chain reaction is conducted in the presence of a pair of competitive primers having a sequence complementary to the sequence of the amplification primer.

Abstract: A micro-array for analysis of DNA is prepared by the steps of spotting onto a solid carrier in its predetermined area in which plural reactive groups are fixed an aqueous solution which contains a thickening agent and probe molecules (e.g., DNA fragments) having a group reactive with the reactive group of the solid carrier to produce covalent bonding; spotting onto the solid carrier in a different area having the same reactive groups an aqueous solution (same or different); incubating the aqueous solution-spotted solid carrier to produce the covalent bondings; and washing the solid carrier with an aqueous medium to remove the thickening agent from the solid carrier. An electrostatic bonding can be utilized in place of the covalent bonding.

Abstract: An object of the present invention to provide a method for analyzing gene expression levels which can be simply and rapidly carried out by using a small apparatus without requiring any special techniques, complicated operations and special apparatuses. The present invention provides a method for analyzing expression levels of a target nucleic acid in a biological sample which comprises steps of: (1) conducting polymerase elongation by reacting RNA from a biological sample or cDNA synthesized therefrom, at least one primer complementary with a part of the target nucleic acid sequence contained in the RNA, at least one deoxynucleoside triphosphate, and at least one polymerase to synthesize said target nucleic acid sequence; and (2) detecting or quantifying pyrophosphoric acid which is generated upon the polymerase elongation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for separating and purifying nucleic acids, which comprises:a cylindrical syringe having a leading end part in which a first opening part is formed, a base end part in which a second opening part is formed and an accommodation part between said first opening part and second opening part, the accommodation part being able to hold liquid therein; and a solid phase-holding member connected to said leading end part, a flow hole being formed at the leading end side of the solid phase-holding member; wherein a solid phase comprised of an organic polymer having a hydroxyl group on the surface thereof is accommodated in said solid phase-holding member, the solid phase being able to adsorb and desorb nucleic acids in a sample solution; and wherein a pressure sensor capable of detecting the pressure in the accommodation part is connected.

Abstract: A DNA chip (or PNA chip) composed of a solid carrier and plural DNA fragments (or PNA fragments) fixed onto the solid carrier at each one end, wherein a plurality of short chain spacer molecules having a hydrophilic moiety at each one end are fixed at each another end onto a surface of the solid carrier having no DNA fragments (or no PNA fragments) on its surface is effective for high sensitive quantitative analysis of a nucleic acid fragment complementary to the DNA fragment (or PNA fragment).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for separating and purifying a nucleic acid by adsorbing the nucleic acid in a test sample to a surface of a membrane and desorbing the nucleic acid by washing and the like.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for separating and purifying a nucleic acid by adsorbing the nucleic acid in a test sample to a surface of a solid phase and desorbing the nucleic acid by washing and the like. The present invention provides a method for separating and purifying a nucleic acid having a predetermined length from a nucleic acid mixture, comprising a step of: adsorbing and desorbing a nucleic acid in the nucleic acid mixture containing nucleic acids having different lengths to and from a solid phase of an organic macromolecule having a hydroxyl group on surface thereof.

Abstract: A DNA chip (or PNA chip) composed of a solid carrier and plural DNA fragments (or PNA fragments) fixed onto is the solid carrier at each one end, wherein a plurality of short chain spacer molecules having a hydrophilic moiety at each one end are fixed at each another end onto a surface of the solid carrier having no DNA fragments (or no PNA fragments) on its surface is effective for high sensitive quantitative analysis of a nucleic acid fragment complementary to the DNA fragment (or PNA fragment).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for separating and purifying a nucleic acid by adsorbing the nucleic acid in a test sample to a surface of a solid phase and desorbing the nucleic acid by washing and the like. The present invention provides a method for separating and purifying RNA from a nucleic acid mixture, comprising a step of: adsorbing and desorbing a nucleic acid in the nucleic acid mixture containing RNA and DNA to and from a solid phase of an organic macromolecule.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for analyzing a target nucleic acid fragment which can be simply and swiftly carried out by using a small apparatus, a kit for analyzing a target nucleic acid fragment using the method for analysis, and a dry analytical element for quantifying pyrophosphoric acid. The present invention provides a method for analyzing pyrophosphoric acid generated upon polymerase elongation reaction based on certain nucleotide sequence of a target nucleic acid, a kit for analysis for carrying out the above mentioned method for analysis, and a dry analytical element for quantifying pyrophosphoric acid.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide: a method for isolating and purifying nucleic acids which employs a solid phase wherein the solid phase has excellent isolating capability, good washing efficiency, and easy workability, and can be mass produced with substantially identical isolating capability, the solid phase being used in a method for isolating and purifying nucleic acids by adsorbing nucleic acids in a sample onto a solid phase surface and desorbing the nucleic acids by washing and the like; and a unit for isolation and purification of nucleic acid which is suitable for carrying out said method.

Abstract: A method for detecting a hybrid multi-stranded nucleic acid sample nucleic acid, which comprises the step of allowing the sample nucleic acid to interact with a probe nucleic acid to form a hybrid multi-stranded nucleic acid by hybridization of the probe nucleic acid and the sample nucleic acid, which further comprises the steps of allowing two or more kinds of compounds with affinity to multi-stranded nucleic acids, each having a different luminescent characteristic, to interact with the hybrid multi-stranded nucleic acid, and then detecting luminescence generated as a result of an energy transfer between the two or more kinds of the compounds with affinity to multi-stranded nucleic acids.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a nucleic acid fragment-fixed electrode wherein a probe nucleic acid fragment is fixed on the electrode stably and in an amount-controlled manner. The present invention provides a nucleic acid fragment-fixed electrode wherein a nucleic acid fragment is fixed on the surface of a multi-component self-assembled monolayer of two or more different components which is formed on the electrode, by a covalent bond via a bifunctional linking molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA chip including: a solid support having a surface; a DNA fragment immobilized on the surface; and a graft polymer bonded to the surface, wherein the DNA fragment is immobilized on the surface via the graft polymer. The invention also provides a DNA chip including: a solid support made of a resinous material and having a surface; a DNA fragment immobilized on the surface; and a graft polymer bonded to the surface, wherein the DNA fragment is immobilized on the surface via the graft polymer.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a target nucleic acid fragment is provided that is capable of being performed simply and promptly, by anyone, using a compact device without requirement of specific technique or complex operation. The method comprises timely detection of a double-stranded nucleic acid fragment formed during the polymerase extension reaction due to a specific base sequence of the target nucleic acid fragment as increase of an electrochemical response under the existence of an electrochemically active intercalator; and the kit utilizes the method.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for separation and purification of nucleic acid, which has excellent separating properties, high washing efficiency, and easy processability, which uses mass-producible solid phases with substantially uniform separating capacities, and wherein procedures can be automated, and a unit for separation and purification of nucleic acid suitable for implementing this method.

Abstract: An immunoassay element for quantitatively analyzing a macromolecular antigen by determining the change in enzymatic activity caused by a reaction between the macromolecular polymer antigen and an enzyme-labelled antibody. The immunoassay element comprises a substrate layer containing a non-diffusible substrate which forms a diffusible material in the presence of the enzyme, and a reagent layer containing a fragmenting enzyme for further fragmenting the diffusible material into a lower molecular weight product. Also provided is a process for quantitatively analyzing a macromolecular antigen in a sample by the use of the immunoassay element.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for analyzing a target nucleic acid fragment which can be simply and swiftly carried out by using a small apparatus, and a kit for analyzing a target nucleic acid fragment using the method for analysis. The present invention provides a method for analyzing pyrophosphoric acid generated upon polymerase elongation reaction based on certain nucleotide sequence of a target nucleic acid, and a kit for analysis for carrying out the above mentioned method for analysis.

Abstract: A reactive solid carrier favorably employable for manufacturing DNA chip is composed of a solid carrier and a plurality of vinylsulfonyl groups or their reactive precursors each of which is fixed onto a surface of the solid carrier by covalent bonding via a linking group, and a method for producing a DNA chip is performed by bringing the reactive solid carrier into contact with nucleotide derivatives or their analogues having a reactive group which is reactive with the vinylsulfonyl group or reactive precursor fixed to the solid carrier.

Abstract: A water-soluble fluorescent intercalator compound having the formula: F—La—X F is a fluorescent moiety, X is a divalent cyclic group, and La is a linking group, and at least one of X and La has a site imparting water solubility to the compound or a site that is convertible into a site imparting water solubility to the compound is favorably employable as a fluorescent intercalator in a method for fluorometrically detecting complementary DNA fragments.