| abstract |
The present invention involves methods of improving LCR and PCR amplification schemes by modifying at least one probe/primer end so that the probability of the probe/primer contributing to spurious signal development is greatly reduced. Only after specific hybridization of the modified probe/primer with true target, are the modified ends "corrected" in a target dependent fashion to allow participation of the probe/primer in the enzymatic assembly reaction. Specific modifications depend on whether the assembly is done by ligation (as in LCR) or by extension/elongation (as in PCR). |