Patent ID: 8187815

Claim:
A method of amplifying a target polynucleotide, the method comprising; forming a first reaction complex comprising a reverse stem-loop ligation probe hybridized to the target polynucleotide, wherein the reverse stem-loop ligation probe comprises a loop, a stem, and a 3′ target-specific portion; ligating the reverse stem-loop ligation probe to the target polynucleotide to form an elongated target polynucleotide; digesting the hybridized 3′ target-specific portion from the elongated target polynucleotide to form an elongated target polynucleotide with a liberated end; forming a second reaction complex comprising a reverse primer hybridized to the liberated end of the elongated target polynucleotide; extending the reverse primer to form a first strand, wherein the first strand is hybridized to the elongated target polynucleotide to form a double stranded complex; and, amplifying the double stranded complex.