University of California

Other

Medical Research Council

Donna Albertson

Daniel Pinkel

Joe W Gray

Damir Sudar

The present invention provides methods of determining relative copy number of target nucleic acids and precise mapping of chromosomal abnormalities associated with disease. The methods of the invention use target nucleic acids immobilized on a solid surface, to which a sample comprising two sets of differentially labeled nucleic acids are hybridized. The hybridization of the labeled nucleic acids to the solid surface is then detected using standard techniques.

Comparative fluorescence hybridization to nucleic acid arrays

An illumination apparatus with a specimen slide holder, an illumination source, an optical cavity producing multiple reflection of illumination light to a specimen comprising a first and a second reflective surface arranged to achieve multiple reflections of light to a specimen is provided. The apparatus can further include additional reflective surfaces to achieve the optical cavity, a slide for mounting the specimen, a coverslip which is a reflective component of the optical cavity, one or more prisms for directing light within the optical cavity, antifading solutions for improving the viewing properties of the specimen, an array of materials for analysis, fluorescent components, curved reflective surfaces as components of the optical cavity, specimen detection apparatus, optical detection equipment, computers for analysis of optical images, a plane polarizer, fiberoptics, light transmission apertures, microscopic components, lenses for viewing the specimen, and upper and lower mirrors above and below the specimen slide as components of the optical cavity. Methods of using the apparatus are also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Donna Albertson