Importance

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Abstract

A system is provided for carrying out rapid nucleic acid amplification or other biological reactions requiring thermal cycling. The system of this invention incorporates at least two heating blocks, each having a groove for receiving a reaction vessel such that only a portion of the outer surface of the walls of the vessel are in direct contact with the heating block. The remaining portion of the outer surface of the walls of the reaction vessel remains exposed to ambient conditions. The reaction vessel comes into contact with only one heating block at a time either by movement of the vessel between the heating blocks or by movement of the heating blocks in relation to the vessel. The system of this invention provides rapid temperature cycling without the need for extended ramping times generally associated with single block designs, which include a single temperature block that is forced to heat and cool. Heating and cooling of the reaction using the system of the present invention is accomplished by the reaction vessel and heating blocks coming into thermal contact and reaching thermal equilibrium. The entire vessel need not be surrounded by the heating block, with at least one side of the vessel partially open to ambient conditions. As a result of the configuration of this system it is readily combined with detection systems, for example, fluorescence detection systems.

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First Claim