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RCATTM Technology Overview
To diagnose disease, molecules characteristic
of that disease must be studied, such as the DNA of a bacteria or virus,
a protein produced by cancer cells, antibodies to an infection, or the sequence
of a gene mutation. These may be present at very low, often undetectable
levels.
RCAT enables either the target or a signal attached to the target to be
amplified in a way that allows detection of important biological markers
that until now have been undetectable.
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RCAT uses a circular DNA template and a highly specialized polymerase
to generate a long, single-strand DNA product comprising thousands of
copies of the circle. Along this single strand of DNA are binding sites
for thousands of fluorescent dyes. The brightly labeled strand remains
attached or "tethered" to the target molecule or analyte, facilitating
detection. This increases precision, allows multiple experiments to be
conducted simultaneously (multiplexing), and encourages economy of scale
and the minimal use of expensive reagents, such as monoclonal antibodies
or enzymes.
It is the only practical amplification method that allows recognition,
amplification, and detection of targets directly on a solid surface, such
as within a cell, or on a microarray or biochip, and in an isothermal
environment.
Next: RCAT Advantages
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