Patent ID: 7297494

Claim:
A probe set comprising: (a) a donor polymer comprising (i) a first polynucleotide binding domain complementary to a first region of a target polynucleotide flanked by first and second stem regions which hybridize in the absence of the target polynucleotide to form a stem-loop or random-coil structure, and (ii) a quantum dot; and (b) an acceptor polymer comprising (i) a second polynucleotide binding domain complementary to a second region of the target polynucleotide flanked by first and second stem regions which hybridize in the absence of the target polynucleotide to form a stem-loop or random-coil structure, and (ii) at least one reporter; wherein energy transfer occurs between the donor and the at least one reporter when the donor polymer and the acceptor polymer hybridize to the target polynucleotide and the quantum dot is exposed to an exciting amount of energy.