Calibration molecule and method for determining the number of copies of genes/target loci in a genome using said calibration molecule

摘要

The present invention relates to a calibration molecule (CM) and a method for determining the number of copies of genes/target loci in a genome using said CM. Said method comprises the steps of a) providing a sample containing nucleic acids comprising said target locus and a calibration locus with a known copy number, b) providing a calibrator nucleic acid, wherein said calibrator nucleic acid contains at least one modified target locus and at least one modified calibration locus in a predetermined ratio that are both suitable for amplification, wherein said modification is an identifiable difference in the nucleotide sequence of said modified target locus and modified calibration locus, compared to the target locus and a calibration locus, c) admixing said sample with said calibrator nucleic acid, d) amplifying said target locus and modified target locus, and said calibration locus and modified calibration locus, e) determining the ratio of said target locus and modified target locus as amplified in the mixture, and the ratio of said calibration locus and modified calibration locus as amplified in the mixture, and f) determining the copy number of said target locus in said sample based on the ratios as determined in step e).