Gene examining apparatus and method of detecting target nucleic acid using the same
First Claim
1. A gene examining apparatus utilizing a computer, the apparatus comprising:
- (1) DNA microarrays in each of which a large number of fine liquid accommodating sections are two-dimensionally arranged so that openings of the fine liquid accommodating sections are located on the same plane, in which each of the liquid accommodating sections can three-dimensionally accommodate a liquid, and in which hybridization reaction occurs in the liquid accommodating section between a target nucleic acid already labeled with an optical marker substance and the nucleic acid probe; and
(2) a microscope comprising a stage supporting the DNA microarrays set forth in (1), a temperature regulating section that regulates the temperature of each DNA microarray, and imaging means for picking up an image of an optical signal from the DNA microarray.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a gene examining apparatus utilizing a computer, the apparatus comprising (1) DNA microarrays in each of which a large number of fine liquid accommodating sections are two-dimensionally arranged so that openings of the fine liquid accommodating sections are located on the same plane, in which each of the liquid accommodating sections can three-dimensionally accommodate a liquid, and in which hybridization reaction occurs in the liquid accommodating section between a target nucleic acid already labeled with an optical marker substance and the nucleic acid probe, and (2) a microscope comprising a stage supporting the DNA microarrays set forth in (1), a temperature regulating section that regulates the temperature of each DNA microarray, and imaging means for picking up an image of an optical signal from the DNA microarray.
26 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A gene examining apparatus utilizing a computer, the apparatus comprising:
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(1) DNA microarrays in each of which a large number of fine liquid accommodating sections are two-dimensionally arranged so that openings of the fine liquid accommodating sections are located on the same plane, in which each of the liquid accommodating sections can three-dimensionally accommodate a liquid, and in which hybridization reaction occurs in the liquid accommodating section between a target nucleic acid already labeled with an optical marker substance and the nucleic acid probe; and
(2) a microscope comprising a stage supporting the DNA microarrays set forth in (1), a temperature regulating section that regulates the temperature of each DNA microarray, and imaging means for picking up an image of an optical signal from the DNA microarray. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A gene examining apparatus utilizing a computer, the apparatus comprising:
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(1) DNA microarrays in each of which a large number of fine liquid accommodating sections are two-dimensionally arranged so that openings of the fine liquid accommodating sections are located on the same plane, in which each of the liquid accommodating sections can three-dimensionally accommodate a liquid, and in which hybridization reaction occurs in the liquid accommodating section between a target nucleic acid already labeled with an optical marker substance and the nucleic acid probe;
(2) a microscope comprising a stage supporting the DNA microarrays set forth in (1), a temperature regulating section that regulates the temperature of each DNA microarray, and imaging means for picking up an image of an optical signal from the DNA microarray; and
(3) fluid transporting section connected to the DNA microarray arranged on the stage of the microscope set forth in (2), to move a fluid into and out of the DNA microarray. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A gene examining apparatus utilizing a computer, the apparatus comprising:
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(1) DNA microarrays in each of which a large number of fine liquid accommodating sections are two-dimensionally arranged so that openings of the fine liquid accommodating sections are located on the same plane, in which each of the liquid accommodating sections can three-dimensionally accommodate a liquid, and in which hybridization reaction occurs in the liquid accommodating section between a target nucleic acid already labeled with an optical marker substance and the nucleic acid probe;
(2) a microscope comprising a stage supporting the DNA microarrays set forth in (1), a temperature regulating section that regulates the temperature of each DNA microarray, and imaging means for picking up an image of an optical signal from the DNA microarray;
(3) fluid transporting section connected to the DNA microarray arranged on the stage of the microscope set forth in (2), to move a fluid into and out of the DNA microarray;
(4) a storage section which stores;
(a) programs indicating procedures and conditions for causing reaction in the DNA microarray in (1) while controlling all sections of the apparatus including the temperature regulating section in (2) and the liquid transporting section in (3) and then processing results obtained, and (b) a score table indicating the type of the nucleic acid probe in (1) in association with coordinates of the nucleic acid probe in the DNA microarray;
(5) a main control section which controls the sections in (2) and (3) to operate the apparatus for the DNA microarray in (1) in accordance with a program stored in the storage section in (4), thus integrally controlling the whole apparatus;
(6) an image processing section which operates after the reaction based on the control by the main control section in (5), to process the image picked up by the imaging means set forth in (2) to determine the intensity of an optical signal for each of the probe spots, in accordance with a program contained in the storage section in (4); and
(7) an output section which searches the score table stored in the storage section in (4) to output, as determination results of gene examinations, data corresponding to the intensity of an optical signal from the coordinates determined by the image processing section in (6). - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification