Nucleic Acids as Detection Tools

摘要: The progress of biotechnology, especially towards nanobiotechnology, has been inspired from biological processes that have evolved over billions years. Nucleic acids, long revered for their genetic coding properties, now emerged as important materials molecular diagnostic technologies. At the core nucleic acid-based diagnostics is fidelity hybridization, a reversible thermodynamic process in which acid molecule binds another with complementary sequence. This characteristic extensively explored many areas detection-oriented applications, to distinguish pathogenic species, detect disease-related gene markers, quantify level expression cells and more. In addition ability form helical structures, acids are also known perform more complex tasks such enzymatic catalysis recognition (ligand binding). first discovery this arena was made early 1980s when some natural RNA molecules, ribozymes, were found exhibit catalytic properties reminiscent protein enzymes [1,2]. Years later, an elegant technique ‘in vitro selection’ invented since become relatively routine engineering artificial DNA, or modified molecules can function receptors [3–6]. led colossal collection functional sequences, bioanalytical applications. Our pursuit better quality life generated increasing demand new tools techniques diagnose disease accurately examine environmental conditions. ideal detection device assay must offer great selectivity, excellent sensitivity, ease use low cost production. satisfy these requirements due following assets: (1) specific Watson–Crick base pairing under wide range conditions, (2) high stability shelf-life, (3) synthesis (4) adaptability external modifications radiolabels fluorescent colorimetric dyes.