| abstract |
This invention relates to an improved process for amplifying a specific nucleic acid sequence. The process involves synthesizing single-stranded RNA, single-stranded DNA and double-stranded DNA. The single-stranded RNA is a first template for a first primer, the single-stranded DNA is a second template for a second primer, and the double stranded DNA is a third template for synthesis of a plurality of copies of the first template. A sequence of the first primer or the second primer is complementary to a sequence of the specific nucleic acid and a sequence of the first primer or the second primer is homologous to a sequence of the specific nucleic acid. The amplification process may be used to increase the quantity of a specific nucleic acid sequence to allow detection, or to increase the purity of a specific nucleic acid sequence as a substitute for conventional cloning methodology. |