Patent ID: 6406893
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: B01F,B01L,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
A method of amplifying a target nucleic acid by a non-thermal polymerase chain reaction, the method comprising:providing a microfluidic device which includes a reaction chamber or channel, one or more sources of a target nucleic acid and primer sequences, a source of a chemical denaturant and a source of polymerase enzyme fluidly connected to the reaction chamber or channel, and a fluid direction system for delivering the chemical denaturant or the polymerase enzyme to the reaction chamber or channel; flowing the target nucleic acid and the primer sequences along the reaction chamber or channel; melting complementary strands of the flowing target nucleic acid by delivering a volume of the chemical denaturant to the reaction chamber or channel; annealing the primer sequences to the flowing target nucleic acid by eliminating a denaturing effect of the chemical denaturant; extending the primer sequences along the flowing target nucleic acid by delivering a volume of the polymerase enzyme to the reaction chamber or channel; and repeating the steps of melting, annealing and extending to amplify the flowing target nucleic acid.