Molecular Research Center of Cincinnati, Ohio, has received European patent No. 1,833,983, “Reagents and methods for storage and processing of biological samples for DNA analysis.” The patent describes reagents and methods for storing and/or processing of biological samples for direct use in PCR and other DNA applications. After storage, the preserved DNA in the samples may then be processed and analyzed by known methods.
Epigenomics has received European Patent No. 1,831,399, “Methods and nucleic acids for the analysis of gene expression associated with the prognosis of prostate cell proliferative disorders.” The patent describes a method for providing a prognosis of prostate cell proliferative disorders by: a) obtaining a biological sample containing genomic nucleic acids; b) contacting or hybridizing the nucleic acids with reagents sufficient enough for distinguishing between methylated and non-methylated CpG dinucleotide sequences; and c) determining the methylation state of at least one target CpG dinucleotide sequence.
Hitachi has received US Patent No. 7,273,704, “Method of detecting nucleic acid by using DNA microarrays and nucleic acid detection apparatus.” The patent claims a method for quantifying the nucleic acid in a sample. The procedure includes the steps of: a) allowing the sample containing a specific nucleic acid to interact with a DNA microarray; b) monitoring output from the nucleic acid probe parts due to hybridization to determine the normal distribution of time taken to reach a predetermined output value; and c) quantifying the specific nucleic acid contained in the sample based on a maximum value determined from the normal distribution obtained in the above step.
Michael Strathman of Mulkiteo, Wash., has received US Patent No. 7,272,507, “Applications of parallel genomic analysis.” The patent claims a parallel method for polynucleotide sequencing by: a) preparing a library comprising sample-tagged polynucleotide clones; b) carrying out a nucleic acid sequencing reaction on the library to generate a plurality of tagged reaction products; c) separating the reaction products according to size; d) collecting fractions of the separated reaction products; e) hybridizing the products collected in step (d) to an array comprising tag complements; f) amplifying the hybridized reaction products in situ; and g) determining a plurality of polynucleotide sequences of the sample-tagged clones by detecting the amplified reaction products to de-convolute a plurality of sequence ladders for the sample-tagged clones.