An SNP molecular marker for weight gain trait selection and genetic sex identification of Ictalurus punctatus as well as a screening method and application of the SNP molecular marker are provided. At least one of 17 SNP molecular markers for weight gain trait selection of Ictalurus punctatus and a molecular control means for genetic sex and weight gain trait selection and control of Ictalurus punctatus are further provided. Efficient and scientific identification of Ictalurus punctatus is achieved by means of simple PCR reactions and nucleic acid test strips, and the accuracy rate reaches 100%. A traditional agarose gel electrophoresis method is not used in the whole identification process, the cumbersome steps of gel preparation and running electrophoresis are omitted, nucleic acid dyes are not used, and the experimental process is safe and environmentally friendly.

An SNP molecular marker for weight gain trait selection and genetic sex identification of Ictalurus punctatus as well as a screening method and application of the SNP molecular marker are provided. At least one of 17 SNP molecular markers for weight gain trait selection of Ictalurus punctatus and a molecular control means for genetic sex and weight gain trait selection and control of Ictalurus punctatus are further provided. Efficient and scientific identification of Ictalurus punctatus is achieved by means of simple PCR reactions and nucleic acid test strips, and the accuracy rate reaches 100%. A traditional agarose gel electrophoresis method is not used in the whole identification process, the cumbersome steps of gel preparation and running electrophoresis are omitted, nucleic acid dyes are not used, and the experimental process is safe and environmentally friendly.

The disclosure relates to the development of methods for predicting effectiveness of an anti-TNF agent in the treatment of psoriasis. More particularly, the disclosure provides new biomarkers and combinations of biomarkers for predicting effectiveness of an anti-TNF agent in the treatment of psoriasis and subsequently treating with an anti-TNF agent if the biomarker level is indicative of effectiveness in the anti-TNF treatment of the subject.

The disclosure relates to the development of methods for predicting effectiveness of an anti-TNF agent in the treatment of psoriasis. More particularly, the disclosure provides new biomarkers and combinations of biomarkers for predicting effectiveness of an anti-TNF agent in the treatment of psoriasis and subsequently treating with an anti-TNF agent if the biomarker level is indicative of effectiveness in the anti-TNF treatment of the subject.

Various embodiments are directed to applications (e.g., classification of biological samples) of the analysis of the count, the fragmentation patterns, and size of cell-free nucleic acids, e.g., plasma DNA and serum DNA, including nucleic acids from pathogens, such as viruses. Embodiments of one application can determine if a subject has a particular condition. For example, a method of present disclosure can determine if a subject has cancer or a tumor, or other pathology. Embodiments of another application can be used to assess the stage of a condition, or the progression of a condition over time. For example, a method of the present disclosure may be used to determine a stage of cancer in a subject, or the progression of cancer in a subject over time (e.g., using samples obtained from a subject at different times).

Various embodiments are directed to applications (e.g., classification of biological samples) of the analysis of the count, the fragmentation patterns, and size of cell-free nucleic acids, e.g., plasma DNA and serum DNA, including nucleic acids from pathogens, such as viruses. Embodiments of one application can determine if a subject has a particular condition. For example, a method of present disclosure can determine if a subject has cancer or a tumor, or other pathology. Embodiments of another application can be used to assess the stage of a condition, or the progression of a condition over time. For example, a method of the present disclosure may be used to determine a stage of cancer in a subject, or the progression of cancer in a subject over time (e.g., using samples obtained from a subject at different times).

Provided herein includes a method for characterizing a target cell-free nucleic acid (cfNA) molecule present in a biological sample such as a urine sample. It comprises isolating total cfNAs from the biological sample without prior preprocessing such as centrifugation to remove cell debris, and characterizing the target cfNA molecule based on the isolated total cfNAs. When the target cfNA is a low molecular weight (LMW) molecule, the method additionally comprises a fractionation step to obtain LMW nucleic acids from the total cfNAs before characterization. The method can detect significantly more copies of the target cfNA molecule compared with existing methods which typically discard the cell debris from the biological sample. Another method is also provided, which substantially recovers cfNAs from the usually discarded cell debris, thus also capable of detecting significantly more copies of the target cfNA molecule.

Provided herein includes a method for characterizing a target cell-free nucleic acid (cfNA) molecule present in a biological sample such as a urine sample. It comprises isolating total cfNAs from the biological sample without prior preprocessing such as centrifugation to remove cell debris, and characterizing the target cfNA molecule based on the isolated total cfNAs. When the target cfNA is a low molecular weight (LMW) molecule, the method additionally comprises a fractionation step to obtain LMW nucleic acids from the total cfNAs before characterization. The method can detect significantly more copies of the target cfNA molecule compared with existing methods which typically discard the cell debris from the biological sample. Another method is also provided, which substantially recovers cfNAs from the usually discarded cell debris, thus also capable of detecting significantly more copies of the target cfNA molecule.

Provided are compositions and processes that utilize genomic regions that are differentially methylated between a mother and her fetus to separate, isolate or enrich fetal nucleic acid from a maternal sample. The compositions and processes described herein are particularly useful for non-invasive prenatal diagnostics, including the detection of chromosomal aneuploidies.

Disclosed herein are methods to determine the abundance of nucleotide sequences relative to other nucleotide sequences in a complex genome.