Methods and apparatuses for convective polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

摘要

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The method comprises placing a PCR sample in a container which is heated by only a single heat source that provides a high temperature for denaturation in the bottom of the PCR sample, while annealing and extension automatically occur in different regions of the PCR sample due to the convection induced by a temperature gradient descending from the bottom of the PCR sample to the surface of the PCR sample.

主权项

1. An apparatus for performing a method of a nucleic acid sequence amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which apparatus comprising:
(i) a single heat source; (ii) multiple tube-like containers for loading a PCR sample, and (iii) a holder for holding the multiple tube-like containers, wherein the containers are disposed to be in thermal contact with the single heat source, with a bottom part of each of the containers embedded in the single heat source, to provide a relatively high temperature at a bottom part of the PCR sample, and in such a manner that air surrounds the containers above the bottom part of each of the containers to remove heat to lead to a relatively low temperature on a top surface of the PCR sample, whereby a temperature gradient descending from the bottom to the top is resulted in the PCR sample, which induces a convection and makes three events, (i) denaturation, (ii) annealing and (iii) extension, occur sequentially and repeatedly in different regions of the PCR sample; wherein the apparatus does not include a thermally conductive block in contact with an upper part of the each of the containers to remove heat from the PCR sample; and wherein said holder is equipped with a means which is disposed without contact with the containers for dissipating heat accumulating in the air surrounding the containers above the bottom part of each of the containers.