Patent Evaluation: Nucleic Acid Hybridization as a Diagnostic Tool

Summary

Novelty: A novel gene detection method is reported which is safe, convenient, highly sensitive and quick.

Biology: A single stranded nucleic acid probe which has a base sequence complementary to the gene to be detected, is immobilized onto the surface of an electrode or the tip of an optical fibre. The nucleic probe is then reacted with the gene sample, which is denatured to a single stranded form, and then the nucleic acid probe which is hybridized with the gene, is detected. In this procedure, a substance capable of recognizing and binding specifically to the double stranded nucleic acid and being active electrochemically or optically, is added to the reaction system which consists of the nucleic acid probe and the gene sample. The detection of the nucleic acid probe is conducted by electrochemical or optical determination.