METHOD FOR DETECTING NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES BASED ON THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SURFACES

摘要

The present invention relates to methods for detecting a target nucleic acid molecule in a sample. The methods involve providing a device having surfaces not in contact with each other, at least one of which is moveable. A pair of oligonucleotide probes complementary to the target nucleic acid molecule are attached to the surfaces of the device. The device is then contacted with a sample, under selective hybridization conditions, to permit target molecules, if any, present in the sample, to hybridize to the probes. Finally, it is determined whether there is a decrease in the relative movement between the surfaces, thereby indicating the presence of the target molecule in the sample. Alternatively, single stranded nucleic acid molecules are attached to the surfaces to determine whether the two surfaces are closer to one another than prior to the contacting. Devices used to carry out the above methods are also disclosed.