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Title: Repeat sequence chromosome specific nucleic acid probes and methods of preparing and using

Patent ·
OSTI ID:87721

A primer directed DNA amplification method to isolate efficiently chromosome-specific repeated DNA wherein degenerate oligonucleotide primers are used is disclosed. The probes produced are a heterogeneous mixture that can be used with blocking DNA as a chromosome-specific staining reagent, and/or the elements of the mixture can be screened for high specificity, size and/or high degree of repetition among other parameters. The degenerate primers are sets of primers that vary in sequence but are substantially complementary to highly repeated nucleic acid sequences, preferably clustered within the template DNA, for example, pericentromeric alpha satellite repeat sequences. The template DNA is preferably chromosome-specific. Exemplary primers and probes are disclosed. The probes of this invention can be used to determine the number of chromosomes of a specific type in metaphase spreads, in germ line and/or somatic cell interphase nuclei, micronuclei and/or in tissue sections. Also provided is a method to select arbitrarily repeat sequence probes that can be screened for chromosome-specificity. 18 figs.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Assignee:
Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5,427,932/A/
Application Number:
PAN: 7-858,124
OSTI ID:
87721
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 27 Jun 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English