Method for amplifying unknown nucleic acid sequences

US5104792A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services · US

Inventors

• Jonathan E. Silver · Bethesda, US
• Stephen M. Feinstone · Boyds, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 21, 1989
• Grant date: Apr 14, 1992
• Expiry date: Dec 21, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12Q1/686
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A modification of the PCR technique is described which allows fragments of RNA or DNA to be amplified without prior knowledge of their sequence. The technique can be used to amplify viral nucleic acids present in small amounts in clinical material allowing, for example, the diagnosis of a particular virus infection or the discovery of new viruses.