Computer-Based Sequencing of Individual
Nucleic Acid Molecules
INVENTORS • David Schwartz, Bud Mishra
WARF: P00378US
View U.S. Patent No. 6,221,592 in PDF format.
Since its founding in 1925 as the patenting and
licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin-
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial
partners interested in developing optical methods for sequencing doublestranded nucleic acid molecules.
Madison, WARF has been working with business and
industry to transform university research into products
that benefit society. WARF intellectual property
managers and licensing staff members are leaders in
the field of university-based technology transfer. They
OVERVIEW
are familiar with the intricacies of patenting, have
worked with researchers in relevant disciplines,
understand industries and markets, and have
The analysis of nucleic acid molecules at the genome level is an extremely complex
endeavor requiring the rapid characterization of numerous, very large nucleic acid
molecules via high- throughput DNA mapping and sequencing. Large-scale automated
techniques are costly and laborious.
negotiated innovative licensing strategies to meet the
individual needs of business clients.
In particular, genomic mapping and analysis would benefit from a superior method of
optically sequencing single nucleic acid molecules. A new method should achieve faster,
more accurate visualization of such molecules using fluorescence microscopy.
THE INVENTION
UW–Madison researchers have developed new methods for optically imaging one or more
labeled nucleotides on an individual double-stranded nucleic acid molecule. The new
methods, called ‘single molecule optical sequencing,’ enable high throughput analysis at
the genome level and can be used to detect specific nucleotide sequences.
The process involves nicking a nucleic acid molecule elongated and fixed to a surface.
Nucleotide labels are added enzymatically and imaged through a fluorescent microscope.
Bayesian inference estimation is used to analyze a population of images and produce
statistically accurate nucleotide sequences.
APPLICATIONS
• High throughput analysis of individual nucleic acid molecules
KEY BENEFITS
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation | 614 Walnut Street, 13th Floor | Madison, WI 53726 | [email protected] | www.warf.org
WARF: P00378US
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Enables direct genome-level analysis
Rapid and accurate
Reduces operator interaction
Requires very little sample
Lower reagent costs
PCR is not required.
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
Single molecule optical sequencing has successfully been used to image single fluorescently labeled nucleotides and identify single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Related Technologies
WARF reference number P06220US describes methods of using channels for nicking and analyzing individual DNA molecules.
WARF reference number P07298US describes an efficient whole genome analysis system called “Nanocoding.”
Tech Fields
Research Tools - DNA & RNA tools
Research Tools - Genomics & proteomics
CONTACT INFORMATION
For current licensing status, please contact Mark Staudt at [email protected] or (608) 265-3084.
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation | 614 Walnut Street, 13th Floor | Madison, WI 53726 | [email protected] | www.warf.org