An automated apparatus is provided which implements a new method of extracting and purifying nucleic acids from cells without the use of centrifugation. In the method, a lysate is created by treating the cells with proteinase K in the presence of a lysis buffer having a high concentration of a salt. The lysate is mixed with a phenol-based solvent system, thereby creating an emulsion. The emulsion is heated to promote phase separation. Similarly, the rate of phase separation is also enhanced by i...

This invention relates to a process for amplifying a specific nucleic acid sequence. The process involves synthesizing single-stranded RNA, single-stranded DNA and double-stranded DNA. The single-stranded RNA is a first template for a first primer, the single-stranded DNA is a second template for a second primer, and the double stranded DNA is a third template for synthesis of a plurality of copies of the first template. A sequence of the first primer or the second primer is complementary to a s...

Novel methods and microorganisms are provided, where novel genetic mammalian cell invasive capability is imparted to a microorganism by the introduction of an exogenous inv gene. The resulting organisms are then capable of binding to mammalian cells and are transferred to the cytoplasm. Other novel genetic capabilities may be imparted to the unicellular microorganism, which may serve as a vaccine for one or more pathogens or may introduce genetic capabilities or foreign molecules into a mammalia...

For the detection of nucleic acids of definite sequence by hybridisation with a complementary nucleic acid probe which contains bound via a chemical bonding at least one hapten as labelling one uses, as hapten, a steroid which is bound via a bridge of at least 4 atoms length to at least one position of the nucleic acid probe which does not participate in hydrogen bridge formation and detects the hybridised probe via an in turn labelled anti-hapten antibody.

A novel class of reagents for assaying nucleic acid sequences comprise successive layers of polynucleotides of a specific structure, including a double-stranded waist and single-stranded, free arms at the molecule ends, formed by hybridization of the arms to adjacent molecule arms. The reagent is used to assay for specific nucleic acid sequences. The outer layer of polynucleotides are specific for the sequence to be assayed through their non-annealed, free, single-stranded arms. The reagents are...

A new class of nucleic acid compounds, referred to as nucleic acid ligands, have been shown to exist that have a specific binding affinity for three dimensional molecular targets. In a preferred embodiment the nucleic acid ligands are identified by the method of the invention referred to as the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX), wherein a candidate mixture of nucleic acids are iteratively enriched in high affinity nucleic acids and amplified for further partitioni...

A nucleic acid detection probe comprising a hybridizable single stranded portion of nucleic acid connected with a non-hybridizable, single or double stranded nucleic acid portion, the non-hybridizable portion preferably including a recognition site for binding by a particular protein. Such recognition site can be a region of singly or doubly stranded nucleic acid specific for a particular nucleic acid binding protein such as lac repressor protein or can be a modified nucleic acid region such as ...

The present invention relates to the induction of interferon production in the cells of living organisms, including human beings. According to the invention, nucleic acid complexes, such as the polyriboinosinate and polycytidylate complex (rI.sub.n .multidot.rC.sub.n), are modified to yield unpaired bases, (uracil or guanine) along the polycytidylate strand which render the complexes more readily hydrolyzable by nucleases present in living cells. The modified complexes retain their ability to st...

A synthetic, non-naturally occurring molecule having the structure: wherein NA.sub.1 and NA.sub.2 are noncomplementary nucleic acid sequences; wherein --S-- is a scissile linkage; and wherein n is an integer from 1 to 4. Variations of this molecule and methods for using the molecules for detecting nucleic acid sequences are provided.

Nucleic acid hybridization probes are provided which have sequences complementary to sequences of segments in bovine male-specific DNA and are suitable for sexing bovine embryos at the time of embryo transfer with virtually 100% accuracy.