Patent ID: 7255989
Filing Date: 2007-08-14
Classification: C07K,C12Q

Abstract:
1. A method for collecting nucleic acids from organisms in a soil sample comprising: (a) grinding a pre-dried or pre-desiccated soil sample containing organisms is to produce microparticles; (b) suspending the microparticles in a liquid buffer medium; (c) extracting nucleic acids from the organisms in the suspension of microparticles; (d) passing the extracted nucleic acids over a molecular sieve to produce elution fractions enriched in nucleic acids; (e) passing the elution fractions enriched in nucleic acids over an anion-exchange chromatography support to produce fractions containing substantially purified nucleic acids; and (f) recovering the elution fractions containing the substantially purified nucleic acids; wherein the nucleic acids are DNA comprising at least one operon or part of an operon; wherein the operon encodes all or part of a metabolic pathway; wherein the metabolic pathway is the polyketide synthesis pathway; and wherein the DNA comprises SEQ ID No.:34.