Importance

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Abstract

Methods of capture, recognition, detection, identification or quantitation of nucleic acids and diagnostics uses generally are described in which are used: (a) a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) comprising a polyamide backbone bearing a plurality of ligands at respective spaced locations along said backbone, said ligands being each independently naturally occurring nucleobases, non-naturally occurring nucleobases or nucleobase-binding groups, each said ligand being bound directly or indirectly to a nitrogen atom in said backbone, and said ligand bearing nitrogen atoms mainly being separated from one another in said backbone by from 4 to 8 intervening atoms; or (b) a nucleic acid analogue capable of hybridizing to a nucleic acid of complementary sequence to form a hybrid which is more stable against denaturation by heat than a hybrid between the conventional deoxyribonucleotide corresponding to said analogue and said nucleic acid; or (c) a nucleic acid analogue capable of hybridizing to a double stranded nucleic acid in which one strand has a sequence complementary to said analogue, so as to displace the other strand from said one strand.

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First Claim