NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION
In some embodiments, the present teachings provide methods for nucleic acid amplification, comprising forming a reaction mixture, and subjecting the reaction mixture to conditions suitable for nucleic acid amplification. In some embodiments, methods for nucleic acid amplification include subjecting the nucleic acid to be amplified to partially denaturing conditions. In some embodiments, methods for nucleic acid amplification include amplifying without fully denaturing the nucleic acid that is amplified. In some embodiments, the methods for nucleic acid amplification employ an enzyme that catalyzes homologous recombination and a polymerase. In some embodiments, methods for nucleic acid amplification can be conducted in a single reaction vessel. In some embodiments, methods for nucleic acid amplification can be conducted in a single continuous liquid phase of a reaction mixture, without need for compartmentalization of the reaction mixture or immobilization of reaction components. In some embodiments, methods for nucleic acid amplification comprise a amplifying at least one polynucleotide onto a surface under isothermal amplification conditions, optionally in the presence of a polymer. The polymer can include a sieving agent and/or a diffusion-reducing agent.
1 .- 20 . (canceled)
21 . A method for nucleic acid amplification, comprising:
(a) forming a reaction mixture including a continuous liquid phase containing a first support, a second support, a first polynucleotide template, a second polynucleotide template, a first universal primer and a polymerase, wherein the first universal primer contains a sequence that is complementary or identical to a corresponding primer-binding sequence present in the first and second polynucleotide templates; and
(b) forming two or more substantially monoclonal populations, each linked to a different support, by clonally amplifying, within the continuous liquid phase, the first polynucleotide template on the first support and the second polynucleotide template on the second support, under isothermal amplification conditions.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the first and second supports each include the universal primer.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the continuous liquid phase of the reaction mixture includes the universal primer.
24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the continuous liquid phase of the reaction mixture includes a dissolved cellulose polymer.
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the reaction mixture includes at least 100 different polynucleotide templates and 100 separate supports.
26 . The method of claim 21 , further including forming an array of monoclonal polynucleotide populations by distributing at least some of the substantially monoclonal populations onto a surface.
27 . The method of claim 21 , further including sequencing a polynucleotide of one or more of the substantially monoclonal populations.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the sequencing includes contacting the polynucleotide of the one or more of the substantially monoclonal populations with a sequencing reaction mixture including a polymerase.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the sequencing reaction mixture includes a sequencing primer having a sequence that is complementary or identical to a corresponding sequence within the polynucleotide of the one or more substantially monoclonal populations.
30 . The method of claim 29 , further including incorporating a nucleotide into the sequencing primer.
31 . The method of claim 30 , further including detecting a signal indicating the incorporating using a sensor.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the sensor includes a field effect transistor (FET).
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the signal includes an increase in concentration of hydrogen, phosphate or pyrophosphate in the sequencing reaction mixture.
34 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the clonally amplifying is performed without contacting the polynucleotide templates with a chemical denaturant during the clonally amplifying.
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the chemical denaturant is selected from the group consisting of: urea, formamide, NaOH and guanidine-containing agents.
36 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the reaction mixture further includes a recombinase.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the recombinase includes a mutant, variant or recombinant uvsX protein.