Patent ID: 6140055
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
A method of detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample which comprises(a) contacting the sample, under conditions permitting primer-initiated nucleic acid amplification and catalytic nucleic acid activity, with(i) a DNA primer suitable for initiating amplification of the target, and(ii) a DNA zymogene which encodes, but which itself is the anti-sense sequence of, a catalytic nucleic acid molecule, wherein the primer and zymogene are situated with respect to each other so that, when the target is present, a single amplified nucleic acid molecule is produced which comprises the sequences of both the target and catalytic nucleic acid molecule; and(b) determining the presence of catalytic nucleic acid activity, thereby determining the presence of the target nucleic acid sequence in the sample.