| 摘要 |
<p>The present invention describes a novel method, a specialised device and a kit for quantitative analysis of mutation loads in cells and tissues. The method of the invention consists of analysing mutations, predominantly within microsatellite DNA, in a large number of single-cells or small cell-clusters independently. This approach is particularly suitable when the detection of a specific molecular change is easily obscured by the presence of normal molecules or by the presence of molecular changes with opposite orientation. Furthermore, it enables the concurrent quantification of mutant frequencies as well as of genetic heterogeneity. The specialised device contemplates the immobilisation of a large number of cells in a specified geometric order, primarily as a grid array, onto a miniaturised carrier, which then enables the molecular analysis of single-cells or small cell-clusters in separate reaction and analysis spaces, thus providing information on the number of modified cells and the nature of the molecular alteration.</p> |
