Patent ID: 6333177
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
A method for selecting oligonucleotides able of identifying at least one difference at the molecular level between at least two biological systems, the method comprising the steps ofa) contacting a pool of oligonucleotides with target molecules of a first one of said biological systems, wherein some of oligonucleotides from said pool have an affinity for at least one of the target molecules of said first biological system;b) separating the oligonucleotides having an affinity for said at least one target molecule from the remainder of the pool;c) amplifying the oligonucleotides which have been separated in step b), to yield a pool enriched in oligonucleotides having a higher affinity for said at least one target molecule;d) contacting the amplified oligonucleotides of step c) with target molecules of a second one of said biological systems;e) removing the oligonucleotides having an affinity for any of the target molecules of said second biological system;f) amplifying the remaining oligonucleotides to yield a pool of oligonucleotides having a higher affinity for said at least one target molecule of said first biological system and a lower affinity for any of the target molecules of said second biological system; andg) repeating the combination of steps a) to f) until at least one difference is identified.