The invention relates to methods of detecting mutations associated with the Ras homologue gene family member (RHOA) gene, and diagnosing conditions associated with these mutations, using Competitive allele-specific TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (cast-PCR). The invention also extends to the products used to detect mutations, and their use in diagnosis.

The invention relates to methods of detecting mutations associated with the Ras homologue gene family member (RHOA) gene, and diagnosing conditions associated with these mutations, using Competitive allele-specific TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (cast-PCR). The invention also extends to the products used to detect mutations, and their use in diagnosis.

Quantitative methods for optimizing the permeabilization of cellular tissues for spatial transcriptomics are provided. Also provided is an instrument for quantitatively optimizing the permeabilization of cellular tissues used for spatial transcriptomics.

Quantitative methods for optimizing the permeabilization of cellular tissues for spatial transcriptomics are provided. Also provided is an instrument for quantitatively optimizing the permeabilization of cellular tissues used for spatial transcriptomics.

This disclosure provides methods and kits useful in analysis of mixed nucleic acid populations, including for multiplex genotyping of a mixed nucleic acid sample and for detecting differences in copy number of a target polynucleotide and/or a target chromosome (e.g., microdeletions, duplications, and aneuploidies). The disclosure also provides methods and systems useful in the diagnosis of genetic abnormalities in a mixed nucleic acid population taken non-invasively from an organism, such as a sample of blood, plasma, serum, urine stool or saliva. The disclosed methods and systems find use in multiple applications, including prenatal testing and cancer diagnostics. The method is based on the hybridization of amplified fragments obtained from the sample, e.g., using molecular inversion probes (MIP) to an oligonucleotide array and the detection of the alleles based on different signals from the different alleles of the SNP.

This disclosure provides methods and kits useful in analysis of mixed nucleic acid populations, including for multiplex genotyping of a mixed nucleic acid sample and for detecting differences in copy number of a target polynucleotide and/or a target chromosome (e.g., microdeletions, duplications, and aneuploidies). The disclosure also provides methods and systems useful in the diagnosis of genetic abnormalities in a mixed nucleic acid population taken non-invasively from an organism, such as a sample of blood, plasma, serum, urine stool or saliva. The disclosed methods and systems find use in multiple applications, including prenatal testing and cancer diagnostics. The method is based on the hybridization of amplified fragments obtained from the sample, e.g., using molecular inversion probes (MIP) to an oligonucleotide array and the detection of the alleles based on different signals from the different alleles of the SNP.

The present invention concerns a method of sequencing immobilized polynucleotides in which beads which are tethered to the solid support are used as labels to identify bases within the polynucleotides. The beads carry sets of probes or bases which can bind to the polynucleotide allowing identification of the target base(s). Identification of the base(s) is achieved through sequential application of different cleavage means specific to different probes/bases carried on the beads. Also provided is an apparatus for performing the method and a kit comprising the apparatus and other components necessary for performing the method.

The present invention concerns a method of sequencing immobilized polynucleotides in which beads which are tethered to the solid support are used as labels to identify bases within the polynucleotides. The beads carry sets of probes or bases which can bind to the polynucleotide allowing identification of the target base(s). Identification of the base(s) is achieved through sequential application of different cleavage means specific to different probes/bases carried on the beads. Also provided is an apparatus for performing the method and a kit comprising the apparatus and other components necessary for performing the method.

In one aspect, the invention features a combination of oligonucleotides comprising a forward primer oligonucleotide and a blocking oligonucleotide. The forward primer oligonucleotide has a 3′ end region, where the 3′ end region includes a portion complementary to a mutation positioned in a region within a polynucleotide. The blocking oligonucleotide contains a blocking moiety and has a 5′ end region, where the 5′ end region includes a portion complementary to a wild-type sequence of the region corresponding to the position of the mutation. In other aspects, the invention provides kits including the combination of primer oligonucleotides and methods of using the oligonucleotides to detect a mutation in a polynucleotide.

In one aspect, the invention features a combination of oligonucleotides comprising a forward primer oligonucleotide and a blocking oligonucleotide. The forward primer oligonucleotide has a 3′ end region, where the 3′ end region includes a portion complementary to a mutation positioned in a region within a polynucleotide. The blocking oligonucleotide contains a blocking moiety and has a 5′ end region, where the 5′ end region includes a portion complementary to a wild-type sequence of the region corresponding to the position of the mutation. In other aspects, the invention provides kits including the combination of primer oligonucleotides and methods of using the oligonucleotides to detect a mutation in a polynucleotide.