Ligase Chain Reaction

Nucleic acid amplification technologies have greatly facilitated medical diagnostics for genetic and infectious diseases through the exquisite sensitivity and specificity associated with these methods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (see Chapter 6) ushered in these technologies and was soon accompanied by numerous newly developed amplification techniques, including ligase chain reaction (LCR). These nucleic acid amplification techniques result in the exponential increase of DNA such that the final product can be detected by nonisotopic means or without probe hybridization. Various techniques have been developed that amplify either the target DNA or the probes used to detect the specific target DNA. Ideally, any nucleic acid amplification technique used for diagnostic detection of DNA should incorporate high sensitivity and specificity and include effective discrimination of target DNA, low background values, ease of use, and the potential for automation. This chapter will describe the ligase chain reaction and highlight these qualities in light of its use as a diagnostic detection method