Heterozygote screening process

Abstract From the Canadian patent

In order to facilitate the screening of an organism or a population of , organisms, carrying heterozygous mutations for identifying the presence of a mutation in a gene of interest, a process is provided which utilises mismatch binding proteins, such as MutS. The process comprises the steps of: obtaining a nucleic acid sample from the organism; denaturing any double stranded nucleic acid present in the sample; allowing the nucleic acid to anneal; and removing homoduplexes from the annealed sample. A positive signal from a probe specific for the gene of interest indicates that the organism carries a heterozygous mutation in said gene.