Patent ID: 7282328

Claim:
A method for exponentially and selectively amplifying a target nucleic acid in a helicase-dependent reaction, the method comprising: (a) providing single strand templates of the target nucleic acid to be amplified; (b) adding oligonucleotide primers for hybridizing to the templates of step (a); (c) synthesizing an extension product of the oligonucleotide primers which are complementary to the templates, by means of a DNA polymerase to form a duplex; (d) contacting the duplex of step (c) with a helicase preparation for unwinding the duplex such that the helicase preparation comprises a helicase and a single strand binding protein (SSB) unless the helicase preparation comprises a thermostable helicase wherein the single strand binding protein is optional; and (e) repeating steps (b)–(d) to exponentially and selectively amplify the target nucleic acid in a helicase-dependent reaction such that amplification does not occur in the absence of the helicase as determined by gel electrophoresis.