Patent ID: 8304193

Claim:
A method for conducting an autocatalytic reaction in plugs in a microfluidic system, comprising the steps of: providing the microfluidic system comprising at least two channels having at least one junction; flowing an aqueous fluid containing at least one substrate molecule and reagents for conducting an autocatalytic reaction through a first channel of the at least two channels; flowing an oil through the second channel of the at least two channels; forming at least one plug of the aqueous fluid containing the at least one substrate molecule and reagents by partitioning the aqueous fluid with the flowing oil at the junction of the at least two channels, the plug being substantially surrounded by an oil flowing through the channel, wherein the at least one plug comprises at least one substrate molecule and reagents for conducting an autocatalytic reaction with the at least one substrate molecule; and providing conditions suitable for the autocatalytic reaction in the at least one plug such that the at least one substrate molecule is amplified.