Jason Reed et al 2008 Nanotechnology 19 384021 doi:10.1088/0957-4484/19/38/384021
Jason Reed1,2,4, Carlin Hsueh1, Bud Mishra3 and James K Gimzewski1,2,4
Show affiliationsWe have used an atomic force microscope to examine a clinically derived sample of single-molecule gene transcripts, in the form of double-stranded cDNA, (c: complementary) obtained from human cardiac muscle without the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. We observed a log-normal distribution of transcript sizes, with most molecules being in the range of 0.4–7.0 kilobase pairs (kb) or 130–2300 nm in contour length, in accordance with the expected distribution of mRNA (m: messenger) sizes in mammalian cells. We observed novel branching structures not previously known to exist in cDNA, and which could have profound negative effects on traditional analysis of cDNA samples through cloning, PCR and DNA sequencing.
87.64.Dz Scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy
Issue 38 (24 September 2008)
Received 21 March 2008, in final form 29 May 2008
Published 12 August 2008
Jason Reed et al 2008 Nanotechnology 19 384021
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