Lori F Garrison

US Patent:

6361940, Mar 26, 2002

Filed:

Apr 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/053831

Inventors:

Jeffrey Van Ness - Seattle WA
John C. Tabone - Bothell WA
Lori K. Garrison - Seattle WA

Assignee:

QIAGEN Genomics, Inc. - Bothell WA

International Classification:

C12Q 168

US Classification:

435 6, 435 911, 435 912, 536 221, 536 231, 536 243, 536 253

Abstract:

Compositions and methods are provided for increasing the specificity of a probe nucleic acid for a target nucleic acid in a hybridization solution. An abasic residue, deoxyNebularine residue, or a hybotrope is used to increase specificity. A method is provided for identifying useful hybotropes, including salts, water miscible organic solvents, aprotic solvents and organic solvents, on the basis of enthalpy considerations. Hybotropic hybridization and modified oligonucleotides may be used in amplification reactions, such as PCR, sequence analysis methods, and genomic screening methods.