Patent ID: 8476014

Claim:
A probe for detecting a target DNA having a nucleotide sequence, the probe comprising: a first strand having (i) a nucleotide sequence that complements, and can hybridize with, a first portion of the nucleotide sequence of the DNA target, (ii) an end portion nucleotide sequence that does not hybridize with the DNA target and comprises templated fluorescent metal nanoclusters, and and a second strand having (iii) a nucleotide sequence that complements, and can hybridize with, a second portion of the nucleotide sequence of the target DNA, and (iv) an end portion nucleotide sequence that comprises a sequence that does not hybridize with the target DNA target and would enhance the fluorescence emission from the nanoclusters if it were in sufficient proximity to the nanoclusters, wherein upon hybridizing the first strand and second strand of the probe to the target DNA, the proximity of the end portion of the second strand enhances the fluorescence emission from the nanoclusters.