SBIR-STTR Award

A method for increasing the sensitivity of nucleic acid hybridization reactions involving non-radioactive DNA probes is examined. Pacific Biotechnology Research Associates has a proprietary method which increases the hybridization efficiency of radioactively-labeled genetic probes by over 1000%. This method will be applied to commercially-available systems which produce non-radioactive DNA probes to determine whether the same degree of amplification can be obtained in a non-radioisotopic system. Several modifications of the basic technique will be tested in order to determine the optimal condition for increasing the signal obtained with non-radioactive DNA probes.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: The widespread application of recombinant DNA technology to commercial use in genetic engineering or diagnosis is currently limited by the safety and expense considerations of radioactively-labeled genetic probes, and the relative insensitivity of non-radioactive probes. Development of a generic method to improve probe hybridization efficiencies will substantially facilitate the commercial exploitation of genetic probes.

___(NOTE: Note: no official Abstract exists of this Phase II projects. Abstract is modified by idi from relevant Phase I data. The specific Phase II work statement and objectives may differ)___ A method for increasing the sensitivity of nucleic acid hybridization reactions involving non-radioactive DNA probes is examined. Pacific Biotechnology Research Associates has a proprietary method which increases the hybridization efficiency of radioactively-labeled genetic probes by over 1000%. This method will be applied to commercially-available systems which produce non-radioactive DNA probes to determine whether the same degree of amplification can be obtained in a non-radioisotopic system. Several modifications of the basic technique will be tested in order to determine the optimal condition for increasing the signal obtained with non-radioactive DNA probes.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: The widespread application of recombinant DNA technology to commercial use in genetic engineering or diagnosis is currently limited by the safety and expense considerations of radioactively-labeled genetic probes, and the relative insensitivity of non-radioactive probes. Development of a generic method to improve probe hybridization efficiencies will substantially facilitate the commercial exploitation of genetic probes.