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Ligase Chain Reaction

  • Protocol
Medical Biomethods Handbook

Part of the book series: Springer Protocols Handbooks ((SPH))

Abstract

Nucleic acid amplification technologies have greatly facilitated medical diagnostics for genetic and infectious diseases through the exquisite sensitivity and specificity associated with these methods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (see Chapter 6) ushered in these technologies and was soon accompanied by numerous newly developed amplification techniques, including ligase chain reaction (LCR). These nucleic acid amplification techniques result in the exponential increase of DNA such that the final product can be detected by nonisotopic means or without probe hybridization. Various techniques have been developed that amplify either the target DNA or the probes used to detect the specific target DNA. Ideally, any nucleic acid amplification technique used for diagnostic detection of DNA should incorporate high sensitivity and specificity and include effective discrimination of target DNA, low background values, ease of use, and the potential for automation. This chapter will describe the ligase chain reaction and highlight these qualities in light of its use as a diagnostic detection method

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Microbiology Laboratory, Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Carla Osiowy

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  1. Carla Osiowy
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  1. University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK

    John M. Walker  & Ralph Rapley  & 

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© 2005 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Osiowy, C. (2005). Ligase Chain Reaction. In: Walker, J.M., Rapley, R. (eds) Medical Biomethods Handbook. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-870-6:167

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-870-6:167

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-288-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-870-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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