Appeal No. 1997-1668
Application No. 08/361,024
Landegren describes an assay for determining the nucleic acid sequence in a
region of a nucleic acid test substance having a known normal sequence and a known
possible mutation at a target nucleotide position involving use of two probes (i.e.,
primers), i.e., a target probe and an adjacent probe, capable of hybridizing to immediately
adjacent parts of a complementary test substance. The target probe has an end region
nucleotide which is complementary to the normal or mutation nucleotide at the
corresponding target nucleotide position. When the target probe and the adjacent probe
hybridize to one strand of the nucleic acid test substance in the presence of a linking
agent, e.g., a ligase, the target probe and the adjacent probe will link (i.e., ligate) only if the
target nucleotide is correctly base paired with the target probe. Determining the presence
or absence of ligation indicates whether the target nucleotide is normal or a mutation. See
col. 2, line 34 - col. 3, line 20. Landegren discloses a kit comprising a target probe, an
adjacent probe and a ligase (col. 3, lines 39-52).
Mullis describes a process known as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
comprising treating separated complementary strands of a nucleic acid with a molar
excess of two oligonucleotide primers, selected such that each primer hybridizes to the 3'
terminus of a different strand of the double-stranded molecule, and extending the
hybridized primers by a polymerase. The duplexes formed by the extension are then
separated and each newly formed nucleic acid sequence becomes the template of the
- 4 -
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007