METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF A NUCLEIC ACID IN SOLUTION BY MEASUREMENT OF THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

A method estimating a property or parameter of a nucleic acid material, which property or parameter is one to which the electrical conductivity of the nucleic acid material is related, comprises measuring the electrical conductivity of the nucleic acid material, and estimating from the measurement the property or parameter of the material by reference to a predetermined relationship between electrical conductivity and said property or parameter. This is based on the discovery that there are certain important properties of nucleic acids, the quantitative determination of which is frequently desirable, which can be assessed by measurement of the conductivity of a solution of the nucleic acid or acids. Changes in such properties may be reflected in corresponding changes of electrical conductivity. The concentration of nucleic acid in solution and the molecular weight of a species of nucleic acid are examples of important property which may be determined.