Selective Silver Staining of DNA Probes

The major impediment to the wide implementation of DNA diagnostic methods is their cost. Technologisimplify current DNA diagnostic methods and to make them cost competitive with antibody based assaysdesirable. Our new selective silver staining technology could dramatically enhance the price/performand the speed of many currently available DNA based diagnostic methods. Compared to leading alternatpotential advantages of our proprietary technology are reduced material costs, faster detection proc(eliminating radioisotopes or toxic dyes), greater ease of use for manual systems and greater ease oresults with model compounds clearly show the possibility of selectively staining DNA probes. Phasedetermining feasibility with large probe size DNA fragments in real situations on gels or membranes,limit of detection. Methods will also be investigated to improve the yield of modified nucleotides rof probes. Phase II studies will focus on methods of quantitation, demonstration of feasibly with cldiagnostic methods using selective silver staining.