Digital counting of individual molecules by stochastic attachment of diverse labels
US9816137B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 2014 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG16B25/10
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Compositions, methods and kits are disclosed for high-sensitivity single molecule digital counting by the stochastic labeling of a collection of identical molecules by attachment of a diverse set of labels. Each copy of a molecule randomly chooses from a non-depleting reservoir of diverse labels. Detection may be by a variety of methods including hybridization based or sequencing. Molecules that would otherwise be identical in information content can be labeled to create a separately detectable product that is unique or approximately unique in a collection. This stochastic transformation relaxes the problem of counting molecules from one of locating and identifying identical molecules to a series of binary digital questions detecting whether preprogrammed labels are present. The methods may be used, for example, to estimate the number of separate molecules of a given type or types within a sample.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.