BIOLOGICALLY-GENERATED PRIMER FOR PCR - PCR PRIMER OF UNKNOWN SEQUENCE

We describe a method for producing specific PCR primers directly from PCR product, bypassing the usual need to know the primer sequence. Lac k of abundance of primers derived from a PCR product is compensated fo r by the incorporation of an arbitrary 5'TAG sequence which acts as a surrogate template target for the bulk amplification phase. We use the technique to amplify clonospecific rearranged immunoglobulin genes, w hich have applications as markers of lymphoid neoplasms for tracing th e success of therapy. The principle may have wider application whereve r conserved and variable regions of DNA are juxtaposed.