Thermal cycler including a temperature gradient block
First Claim
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1. A method for simultaneously reacting a plurality of reaction mixtures in an apparatus including a temperature gradient block comprising the steps of:
- placing reaction mixtures in a plurality of reaction wells in said gradient block, said gradient block having a top portion, first and second opposing portions, and a bottom portion, said plurality of reaction mixture wells being formed in said block between said opposing portions, heating said gradient block using a resistive heater, and generating a temperature gradient across said gradient block and between said opposing portions.
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Abstract
A method in which a temperature gradient is generated across a “gradient” block, and an apparatus comprising a block across which a temperature gradient can be generated. By setting up such a gradient, multiple reaction mixtures held in wells on the gradient block can be simultaneously run at temperatures which differ only slightly, thereby permitting an optimum temperature for the reaction to be quickly identified. In a preferred embodiment the gradient block is integrated into a thermal cycler used for nucleic acid amplification reactions.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method for simultaneously reacting a plurality of reaction mixtures in an apparatus including a temperature gradient block comprising the steps of:
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placing reaction mixtures in a plurality of reaction wells in said gradient block, said gradient block having a top portion, first and second opposing portions, and a bottom portion, said plurality of reaction mixture wells being formed in said block between said opposing portions, heating said gradient block using a resistive heater, and generating a temperature gradient across said gradient block and between said opposing portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for automated temperature cycling of a reaction mixture using a thermal cycling apparatus comprising at least one heat conducting block, said block having a plurality of sample wells spaced between first and second opposing portions and in an upper surface thereof, the method comprising placing reaction mixtures in said wells, and heating said gradient block using a resistive heater to generate a temperature gradient across said block and between said opposing portions by heating said first opposing portion and cooling said second opposing portion.
Specification