Patent ID: 8153772
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: C07H,C12N,C12Q

Abstract:
1. An oligonucleotide probe for detecting a first target nucleic acid sequence comprising the formula: wherein X comprises between about 5 and 20 modified nucleic acid bases complementary to a first region of said first target nucleic acid sequence; wherein R comprises between about 5 and 10 universal or generic bases juxtaposed to one another and said universal or generic bases align with bases of a second region of said first target nucleic acid sequence; wherein Y comprises between about 5 and about 20 nucleic acid bases complementary to a third region of said first target nucleic acid sequence; wherein X, R, and Y are covalently joined; wherein greater than 20% of the total number of bases in said oligonucleotide probe are said universal or generic bases juxtaposed to one another; wherein said oligonucleotide probe further comprises a detectable label; and wherein said oligonucleotide probe is capable of hybridizing to and detecting said first target nucleic acid sequence but not able to detect a second target nucleic acid sequence that differs from said first target nucleic acid sequence by a single nucleotide base mismatch in the first or third region of the target nucleic acid sequence.