RAPID DNA AMPLIFICATION IN PIPETTOR TIPS

Amplification of 200-1000-bp DNA was performed for 15-30 min using a r apid thermal cycler developed on the basis of a commercially available TC-1000-1 device (IRLEN, St-Petersburg, Russia). Thin-walled, high su rface-to-volume ratio plastic pipettor tips were used as reaction tube s with 20 mu 1 total reaction volume in order to increase the rate of heating (cooling), thus permitting the time required for DNA amplifica tion to be considerably reduced (5-10 times). Results of rapid (30-60 sec per cycle) DNA amplification using gene- targeted and random prime rs as well are also presented.