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Katrin Bosserhoff

Heinrich Kurz

Peter Haring Bolivar

Michael Nagel

Martin Brucherseifer

Reinhard Büttner

The invention relates to a method for proving the existence of a polynucleotide sequence A in a sample containing a plurality of identical or different polynucleotide sequences X as individual strands and where the polynucleotide sequence A may be identical with one of the polynucleotide sequences X or may be contained as a sequence portion in one of the polynucleotide sequences X, through the inquiry of the state of linkage of the polynucleotide sequences X contained in the sample to a known test polynucleotide sequence B complementary to the polynucleotide sequence A, comprising the following steps: preparation of a test medium containing as individual strands test polynucleotide sequences B complementary to the polynucleotide sequence A which is to be proven, establishing contact of the sample with the test medium by placing the sample into or onto the test medium such that the individual strands of the polynucleotide sequences X contained in the sample may bind to the complementary test polynucleotide sequences B contained in the test medium. For proving a linkage of polynucleotide sequences X to test polynucleotide sequences B, the following step c) is carried out: determination of at least one component of the complex index of refraction or of a parameter equivalent to it of the sample which is in contact with the test medium by interaction with incident electro-magnetic radiation, the frequency of which is within the range of 0.1 terahertz (THz) and 20 THz, preferably between 1 THz and 10 THz and subsequent analysis of the properties of the electro-magnetic radiation after the interaction, in particular in respect of time delay or phase delay, absorption, refraction or dispersion of the incident electro-magnetic radiation caused by the interaction.

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Aachen, Germany

Katrin Bosserhoff