Patent ID: 8394584

Claim:
A method for separating DNA based on a methylation parameter, said method comprising: providing a membrane having one or more nanopores, wherein said membrane separates a first compartment from a second compartment and the nanopore is in fluid communication with the first and second compartments; providing DNA comprising a heterogeneous mixture of DNA molecules having different methylation parameters to said first compartment; separating said DNA by establishing an electric field across the membrane, and generating a threshold voltage across said nanopore from said electric field to force methylated DNA having the methylation parameter through said nanopore from said first to said second compartment without substantially allowing unwanted DNA not having the methylation parameter to pass to said second compartment to concentrate methylated DNA having the methylation parameter in said second compartment by a factor that is greater than or equal to 1000 the number of DNA not having the methylation parameter in said second compartment.