| abstract |
There is described a composition comprising: a TSU promoter oligonucleotide that includes a 5' promoter sequence, an internal first universal sequence (U1), and a 3' first target specific sequence (TS1) that binds specifically to a target sequence contained in a target nucleic acid, wherein the TSU promoter oligonucleotide is a TSU promoter primer that has a 3' terminus that is capable of being extended by a polymerase, or is a TSU promoter provider oligonucleotide that has a blocked 3' terminus that is incapable of being extended by a polymerase, a TSU non-promoter primer oligonucleotide made up of a 5' second universal sequence (U2) and a 3' second target specific sequence (TS2) which is different from the TS1, and a means for directly or indirectly joining the TSU promoter oligonucleotide to the TSU non-promoter primer oligonucleotide, thereby forming a target specific universal (TSU) primer complex. |