Probe set for analyzing a DNA sample and method for using the same

1. A probe system for analyzing a nucleic acid sample, comprising:

(a) a set of identifier oligonucleotides of sequence B;

(b) a set of splint oligonucleotides of formula X′-A′-B′-Z′, wherein:

within the set: (i) sequences A′ and B′ vary, and (ii) sequences X′ and Z′ are different from each other and are not variable; and,

within each splint oligonucleotide: (i) sequence A′ is complementary to a genomic fragment of the nucleic acid sample, wherein the genomic fragment is of sequence A, and (ii) sequence B′ is complementary to at least one member of the set of identifier oligonucleotides; and

(c) probe sequences comprising X and Z, where sequences X and Z are not variable and hybridize to sequences X′ and Z′, respectively;

wherein a ligatable complex of formula X-A-B-Z is produced when at least one of the splint oligonucleotides hybridizes to each of: (i) one of the X probe sequences, (ii) one of the Z probe sequences, (iii) a member of the set of identifier oligonucleotides and, iv the genomic fragment.

2. The probe system of claim 1 , wherein the set of identifier oligonucleotides comprises at least two different B sequence identifier oligonucleotides and, within the set of splint oligonucleotides, there are: at least 100 different A′ sequences; and, at least two different B′ sequences that are complementary to at least two different identifier oligonucleotides.

3. The probe system of claim 1 , wherein each identifier oligonucleotide or its complementary B′ sequence in a splint oligonucleotide corresponds to the genomic fragment.

4. The probe system of claim 1 , wherein each identifier oligonucleotide or its complementary B′ sequence in a splint oligonucleotide indicates a locus in a genome from which the genomic fragment is derived.

5. The probe system of claim 1 , wherein each identifier oligonucleotide or its complementary B′ sequence in a splint oligonucleotide indicates the chromosome from which the genomic fragment is derived.

6. The probe system of claim 1 , wherein the genomic fragment is from a mammalian genome.

7. The probe system of claim 1 , wherein each identifier oligonucleotide or its complementary B′ sequence in a splint oligonucleotide identifies one or more of chromosome 21, chromosome 18 and chromosome 13.

8. The probe system of claim 1 , wherein the genomic fragment is a restriction fragment.

9. The probe system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more probe sequences of (c) further comprise an oligonucleotide comprising sequence Y, and wherein the ligatable complex is linear.

10. The probe system of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of PCR primers that hybridize to the one or more probes of (c).

11. The probe system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more probe sequences of (c) comprise a backbone probe of formula X-Y-Z, where Y comprises an oligonucleotide sequence, such that the ligatable complex is a circular ligatable complex of formula X-A-B-Z-Y, where sequence Y joins sequences X and Z.

12. The probe system of claim 11 , further comprising a rolling circle amplification primer that hybridizes to a sequence in the backbone probe.

13. The probe system of claim 11 , further comprising:

(A) a rolling circle amplification primer that hybridizes a sequence to the backbone probe; and

(B) up to four distinguishably labeled detection oligonucleotides, wherein each of the distinguishable labeled detection oligonucleotides hybridizes to a B′ sequence.

14. A method comprising:

(a) hybridizing a probe system of claim 1 with a test genomic sample that comprises genomic fragments, to produce ligatable complexes of formula X-A-B-Z;

(b) ligating the ligatable complexes to produce product DNA molecules of formula X-A-B-Z; and

(c) counting the product DNA molecules corresponding to each locus identifier of sequence B.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the counting is done by sequencing product DNA molecules, or amplification products thereof, to produce sequence reads, and counting the number of sequence reads comprising each sequence of B or complement thereof.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the product DNA molecules are circular, and the counting comprises amplifying the product DNA molecules by rolling circle amplification, and counting the number amplification products comprising each sequence of B or complement thereof.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the method comprises labelling the RCA products using distinguishably labeled probes that hybridize to sequence B′, and the counting is done by counting the number of RCA products for each distinguishable label.

18. The method of claim 17 , further wherein the method comprises: i. depositing the RCA products on a planar support; and ii. counting the number of the individual labeled RCA products in an area of the support.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the support is a glass slide.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the support is a porous transparent capillary membrane.

21. The method of claim 14 , wherein the different sequences of B and their complementary sequences B′ identify different chromosomes, and the method further comprises comparing the number of product DNA molecules comprising a first sequence of either B or B′ to the number of product DNA molecules comprising a second sequence of either B or B′ to determine if the genomic sample has an aneuploidy.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein method comprises comparing the counting results of step (c) with the counting results obtained from one or more reference samples.

23. The method of claim 14 , wherein the test genomic sample is from a patient that is suspected or at risk of having a disease or condition, and the counting results of step (c) provide an indication of whether the patient, or fetus thereof, has the disease or condition.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the disease or condition is a cancer, an infectious disease, an inflammatory disease, a transplant rejection, or a trisomy.

25. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fragments are restriction fragments.