Patent ID: 7087381

Claim:
A method of detecting a nucleic acid, comprising: a) providing: i) a cleavage means comprising an enzyme comprising a 5′ nuclease; ii) a target nucleic acid, said target nucleic acid comprising a first region and a second region, said second region downstream of said first region; iii) a first oligonucleotide comprising a 3′ portion and a 5′ portion; v) a second oligonucleotide, wherein said second oligonucleotide comprises a nucleic acid sequence different than said first oligonucleotide; and v) a third oligonucleotide; b) mixing said cleavage means, said target nucleic acid, said first oligonucleotide, and said second oligonucleotide under conditions such that at least said 3′ portion of said first oligonucleotide is hybridized to said first region of said target nucleic acid and wherein at least a portion of said second oligonucleotide is hybridized to said second region of said target nucleic acid to form a first complex, and wherein said cleavage of said first complex by said cleavage means liberates said 5′ portion of said first oligonucleotide as a first cleavage product; c) reacting said first cleavage product with said third oligonucleotide and said cleavage means such that at least a portion of said first cleavage product is hybridized to said third oligonucleotide to form a second complex, wherein cleavage of said second complex generates a second cleavage product; and d) detecting the cleavage of said second complex, thereby detecting a nucleic acid.