Digital counting of individual molecules by stochastic attachment of diverse label-tags
US9315857B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 2011 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12Q1/6874
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Compositions, methods and kits are disclosed for high-sensitivity counting of individual molecules by stochastic labeling of a identical molecules in mixtures of molecules by attachment of a unique label-tags from a diverse pool of label tags to confer uniqueness to otherwise identical or indistinguishable events. Individual occurrences of target molecules randomly choose from a non-depleting reservoir of diverse label-tags. Labeled molecules may be detected by hybridization or sequencing based methods. Molecules that would otherwise be identical in information content are labeled to create a separately detectable product that can be distinctly detected. The disclosed stochastic transformation methods reduce the problem of counting molecules from one of locating and identifying identical molecules to a series of binary digital questions detecting whether preprogrammed label-tags are present. The methods may be used, for example, to count a given species of molecule within a sample.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.