METHOD FOR ANALYZING D4Z4 TANDEM REPEAT ARRAYS OF NUCLEIC ACID AND KIT THEREFORE.

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for analysing in vitro D4Z4 tandem repeat arrays of nucleic acid contained on nucleic acid representative of chromosomes, in particular on nucleic acid representative of Human chromosomes 4 and 10, and to a kit therefore. Said method is in particular suitable for determining the number of D4Z4 repeat units in said D4Z4 repeat arrays. Said method is based on stretching of nucleic acid and in particular on Molecular Combing and relies on the use of probes, especially nucleic acid probes, with a particular design. The invention also relates to a method for providing tools for the diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and to a diagnostic kit therefore. The invention further relates to a method for identifying biochemical events and/or genetic in regions containing such tandem repeat arrays.