Patent ID: 7968289
Filing Date: 2011-06-28
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
1. A composition comprising a nucleic acid probe capable of annealing to a target nucleic acid to form a complex, wherein the probe comprises (i) a nucleic acid sequence complementary to the target nucleic acid; (ii) a chemical moiety associated with the nucleic acid sequence, which if modified or removed by a chemical reagent permits the probe to form a hairpin structure and to disassociate from the complex, wherein the chemical moiety is selected from the group consisting of a base, a modified base, an oligonucleotide, a modified oligonucleotide, a modified internucleotide linkage, a protecting group, a peptide, a protein, a polymer, a bead and a nanoparticle; (iii) a signal generating moiety associated with the nucleic acid sequence; and (iv) optionally, a signal quencher associated with the nucleic acid sequence.