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Research paper−162−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.3 No.2 pp.162-172 (Sep. 2010) the results when the measurements are repeated. Detection limit is the minimum amount by which the measured molecules can be detected, and the quantification limit means the minimum amount of measured molecule that can be quantified with sufficient trueness and precision. Linearity is the degree of the ability by which the measurement result and the amount of substance of the measured molecule within a certain range can be expressed as a linear relationship. Range is the upper and lower limits of the concentration of the measured molecule that give appropriate trueness, precision, and linearity. Robustness is the degree in which the measurement value is unaffected when the measurement condition shifts, and for example, in gene quantification, the inclusion of inhibitors may affect this factor. Commutability is the equivalence of the obtained measurement value, when the obtained value is compared with the one obtained by measuring the same sample using another (standard) method. Other than these indices for quantification, convenience of use, cost performance, throughput, and speed are important factors from the perspective of realizing the measurements. Considering the development of a practical gene quantification technology, the technology must have a certain level or higher of specificity, trueness, precision, and detection limit. Furthermore, for the technology to become diffused widely, it must have high robustness (accurate quantification must be possible even in the presence of inhibitors), be easy to use, and have excellent cost performance.In the quantification of a specific gene, it must be kept in mind that the target gene within the sample may be extremely minute in amount. Therefore, to quantify a specific gene, it 1 IntroductionThe genetic analysis technology is used in the wide-ranging socioeconomic activities including medicine, agriculture, fisheries, environment, and foods. Its use in clinical genetic testing is particularly increasing. Specifically, the test kits for hepatitis C virus and tuberculosis bacterium are already commercially available, and the genetic analysis technology is applied to hepatitis B virus, HIV, and sepsis pathogen. The venture businesses are beginning to provide subcontract service for genetic analysis for lifestyle-related diseases. In fields other than clinical tests, genetic analysis technology is used for DNA typing in the forensic investigation, detection of the food poisoning pathogens, quantification of the contents of genetically recombined foods, breed identification, as well as in bioterrorism countermeasures and environmental measurements. It is certain that the genetic analysis technology will be applied further, and the technology to detect and quantify certain genes is one of the most basic and important genetic analysis technologies.There are eight items of quantitative analysis including the gene quantification technology: (1) specificity, (2) trueness, (3) precision, (4) detection limit, (5) linearity, (6) range, (7) robustness, and (8) commutability. Specificity is the ability to accurately measure only the molecule to be investigated amongst the coexisting similar molecules, and the point in nucleic acid detection is whether the target nucleic acid molecule and those with other sequences can be properly identified. Trueness is the degree of match between the measurement result and the true value of the measured subject. Precision is the degree of (smallness of) variations in - Development of a quantitative detection method for specific gene sequences using fluorescence quenching phenomenon -Naohiro NodaBiomedical Research Institute, AIST Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan *E-mail : Original manuscript received January 26, 2010, Revisions received February 15, 2010, Accepted February 19, 2010DNA and RNA quantifications are essential in various fields such as biomedicine, agriculture, fishery, environment, and food. We have developed an accurate and cost-effective method for the quantification of specific nucleic acid sequences; the method involves the use of the fluorescent quenching phenomenon via an electron transfer between the dye and a guanine base at a particular position. This paper describes the elemental key technologies and their synthesis for the development of such a gene quantification method. Furthermore, based on the findings of a collaborative research project with a private company, we report the scenario for the industrialization and the practical use of the developed method. Development of an accurate and cost-effective quantitative detection method for specific gene sequencesKeywords : Gene quantification, fluorescence quenching, life science, fluorescent probe[Translation from Synthesiology, Vol.3, No.2, p.147-157 (2010)]

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