Polymorphisms are present throughout an organism's genome, and understanding which alleles are present in a particular organism's genome can be advantageous. When probing the identity of these alleles, one must minimize incorrect readings due to inefficiencies in the system. In hydrolysis probe applications, these inefficiencies may be due to over-activity of an exonuclease functionality that excises nucleotides from probes that are only partially, complementary to a region of a target. The present invention provides a mixture that contains a plurality of polymerases including one that has a 5.fwdarw.3 exonuclease functionality and one that lacks or substantially lacks it, each in a sufficient relative amount and concentration to increase efficiencies of the system.

Polymorphisms are present throughout an organism's genome, and understanding which alleles are present in a particular organism's genome can be advantageous. When probing the identity of these alleles, one must minimize incorrect readings due to inefficiencies in the system. In hydrolysis probe applications, these inefficiencies may be due to over-activity of an exonuclease functionality that excises nucleotides from probes that are only partially, complementary to a region of a target. The present invention provides a mixture that contains a plurality of polymerases including one that has a 5.fwdarw.3 exonuclease functionality and one that lacks or substantially lacks it, each in a sufficient relative amount and concentration to increase efficiencies of the system.

A method of detecting a nucleic acid including mixing a fluid including a target nucleic acid with a detection reagent including a first enzyme for cleaving a first nucleic acid having a first flap and a second enzyme for cleaving a second nucleic acid such that the target nucleic acid, the first nucleic acid and the second nucleic acid form a complex as a first invasive structure, conducting a first reaction which causes the first enzyme to cleave the first flap of the first invasive structure and produces a third nucleic acid that forms a complex, as a second invasive structure, with a fourth nucleic acid having a second flap, and conducting a second reaction which causes the second enzyme to cleave the second flap of the second invasive structure and produces a cleaved product.

A method of detecting a nucleic acid including mixing a fluid including a target nucleic acid with a detection reagent including a first enzyme for cleaving a first nucleic acid having a first flap and a second enzyme for cleaving a second nucleic acid such that the target nucleic acid, the first nucleic acid and the second nucleic acid form a complex as a first invasive structure, conducting a first reaction which causes the first enzyme to cleave the first flap of the first invasive structure and produces a third nucleic acid that forms a complex, as a second invasive structure, with a fourth nucleic acid having a second flap, and conducting a second reaction which causes the second enzyme to cleave the second flap of the second invasive structure and produces a cleaved product.

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods useful for the amplification of nucleic acid molecules by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Specifically, the invention provides compositions and methods for the amplification of nucleic acid molecules in a simplified one- or two-step RT-PCR procedure using combinations of reverse transcriptase and thermostable DNA polymerase enzymes in conjunction with sulfur-containing molecules or acetate-containing molecules (or combinations of such sulfur-containing molecules and acetate-containing molecules), and optionally bovine serum albumin. The invention thus facilitates the rapid and efficient amplification of nucleic acid molecules and the detection and quantitation of RNA molecules. The invention also is useful in the rapid production and amplification of cDNAs which may be used for a variety of industrial, medical and forensic purposes.

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods useful for the amplification of nucleic acid molecules by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Specifically, the invention provides compositions and methods for the amplification of nucleic acid molecules in a simplified one- or two-step RT-PCR procedure using combinations of reverse transcriptase and thermostable DNA polymerase enzymes in conjunction with sulfur-containing molecules or acetate-containing molecules (or combinations of such sulfur-containing molecules and acetate-containing molecules), and optionally bovine serum albumin. The invention thus facilitates the rapid and efficient amplification of nucleic acid molecules and the detection and quantitation of RNA molecules. The invention also is useful in the rapid production and amplification of cDNAs which may be used for a variety of industrial, medical and forensic purposes.

Reaction condition compositions for detecting a genomic variation from a small sample amount from 5 nano grams (ng) to 1 microgram (ug) includes DNA ligase, DNA polymerase, at least one COP, a DNA polymerase buffer, NAD+, at least two primers, and deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs). Detection of the genomic variation utilizes COPs with increased ligation efficiency and RCA with fluorescence detection due to simultaneous ligation of COPs to CPs and replication of the genomic variation. The reaction condition composition eliminates the need to perform background reduction of un-hybridized or un-ligated COPs.

Reaction condition compositions for detecting a genomic variation from a small sample amount from 5 nano grams (ng) to 1 microgram (ug) includes DNA ligase, DNA polymerase, at least one COP, a DNA polymerase buffer, NAD+, at least two primers, and deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs). Detection of the genomic variation utilizes COPs with increased ligation efficiency and RCA with fluorescence detection due to simultaneous ligation of COPs to CPs and replication of the genomic variation. The reaction condition composition eliminates the need to perform background reduction of un-hybridized or un-ligated COPs.

A polynucleotide sequencing method includes a wash step that employs a composition including a polymerase. The composition may also include a plurality of nucleotides. The composition may be configured to prevent the polymerase from incorporating one of the plurality of nucleotides into a copy polynucleotide strand. The composition may be substantially free of Mg.sup.2+.

A polynucleotide sequencing method includes a wash step that employs a composition including a polymerase. The composition may also include a plurality of nucleotides. The composition may be configured to prevent the polymerase from incorporating one of the plurality of nucleotides into a copy polynucleotide strand. The composition may be substantially free of Mg.sup.2+.