| abstract |
The present invention concerns a method for characterizing one or more nucleic acids. This method involves immobilizing double-stranded nucleic acids on a solid phase support and cleaving the immobilized nucleic acids with an endonuclease, such that each cleaved nucleic acid has a double-stranded portion. The cleaved nucleic acids are then denatured to form single-stranded cleaved nucleic acids. One or more oligonucleotide sequences are then hybridized to the resulting single-stranded cleaved nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide sequences used each comprise a pre-determined recognition sequence situated such that it recognizes a sequence which was part of the double-stranded portion of the nucleic acid and a label specific to the recognition sequence. The hybridized oligonucleotide sequences are then extended along the single-stranded portion of the immobilized nucleic acid to form an extended strand which is then denatured from the immobilized strand. The immobilized nucleic acid is then characterized by identifying the size of the extended strand and the identity of the recognition sequence. |