METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRONIC KARYOTYPING

1 . A method for analyzing chromosomal segments, the method comprising comprises the steps of:

a) providing a chromosomal segment to be analyzed,

b) providing at least one sequence-specific marker set, each marker within the set binding or otherwise locating at a sequence-specific location on the segment to be analyzed,

c) allowing the one or more marker sets to bind or otherwise locate on the chromosomal segment to form an analyte,

d) introducing the analyte into a device comprising a nanodetector;

e) translocating the analyte through the nanodetector,

f) monitoring changes in an electrical property as the analyte translocates through the nanodetector, such changes indicative of at least one of i) no chromosomal segment present in the nanodetector, ii) a portion of the chromosomal segment lacking a marker present in the nanodetector, or iii) a portion of the chromosomal segment having a marker present in the nanodetector, and

g) recording the changes in the electrical property relative to their positions on the analyte to form a pattern distinctive of the chromosomal segment.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising coating at least a portion of the analyte with a binding moiety prior to introducing the analyte into the device.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the binding moiety comprises one or more proteins.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more proteins comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of RecA, T4 gene 32 protein, f1 geneV protein, human replication protein A, Pf3 single-stranded binding protein, adenovirus DNA binding protein, and E. coli single-stranded binding protein.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanodetector comprises a fluidic nanopore.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanodetector comprises a fluidic micro-channel or nano-channel.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the marker comprises an oligonucleotide probe.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the marker is provided with a tag.

9 . The method of claim 1 , which comprises the additional step of comparing the pattern distinctive of the chromosomal segment to an analogous pattern on a reference chromosome to identify differences between the reference chromosome and the analyte.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising quantifying the pattern distinctive of the chromosomal segment.

11 . A method for analyzing structural variation in genomes, the method comprising the steps of:

a) isolating DNA representing an entire genome or a portion thereof to be analyzed;

b) providing at least one sequence-specific marker set, with each marker in the set capable of binding to or otherwise locating at a specific sequence that appears one or more times in the isolated DNA;

c) allowing the one or more marker sets to bind or otherwise locate on the isolated DNA to form an analyte;

d) introducing the analyte into a device comprising a nanodetector having a detection volume;

e) translocating the analyte through the detection volume of the nanodetector,

f) monitoring changes in an electrical property as the analyte translocates through a detection volume in the nanodetector, such changes indicative of i) no DNA segment present in the detection volume, ii) a DNA segment lacking a marker present in the detection volume, and iii) a DNA segment having a marker present in the detection volume;

g) recording the changes in the electrical property relative to their positions on the analyte, thereby revealing a pattern of changes in the electrical signal that is related to the positions at which markers are present on the isolated DNA; and

h) comparing the pattern to analogous patterns from control and test samples to reveal differences that are indicative of specific abnormalities or structural variations in the test sample.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising coating at least a portion of the analyte.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the binding moiety comprises one or more proteins.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more proteins comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of RecA, T4 gene 32 protein, f1 geneV protein, human replication protein A, Pf3 single-stranded binding protein, adenovirus DNA binding protein, and E. coli single-stranded binding protein.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the nanodetector comprises a fluidic nanopore.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the nanodetector comprises a fluidic micro-channel or nano-channel.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the marker comprises an oligonucleotide probe.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the marker is provided with a tag.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising quantifying the pattern recorded in step g).