Question.

Prepare a 2-4 page summary of nucleic acid amplification techniques that are being explored in the development of nucleic assays for clinical use.

Research and identify a molecular target that being targeted with a PCR-based assay and is separately being targeted with at least one other non-PCR-based molecular assay [e.g., Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification (NASBA), Transcription-Mediated Amplification (TMA), Self-Sustaining Sequence Replication (3SR), Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), Helicase-Dependent Amplification (HDA), Nicking Enzyme Amplification Reaction (NEAR), ligase chain reaction (LCR), Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA), Branched DNA amplification (bDNA), etc.)

Explain how the two molecular technologies work at the molecular level.

Explain how the assays work to diagnose the particular disease, and what samples can be used for diagnosis. Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of each technology.