PROCESS FOR THE ENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS AND AMPLIFICATION OF NUCLEIC ACIDS

A method for amplification of nucleic acids in which substantially use is made of the fact that a pre-defined nucleic acid chain (target sequence) can be multiplied/amplified in the presence of a target sequence-specific activator oligonucleotide. The target sequence-specific activator oligonucleotide causes the separation of re-synthesized complementary primer extension products by strand displacement, so that a new primer oligonucleotide can attach to the respective template strand. The thus formed complex of a primer oligonucleotide and a template strand can initiate a new primer extension reaction. The thus formed primer extension products in turn function as templates, so that an exponential amplification reaction results. Amplification of a particular target sequence takes place more efficiently in case of perfect match complemetary base pair formation between the activator oligonucleotide and the corresponding target sequence. Mismatches between the activator oligonucleotide and a particular target sequence can result in less efficient amplification. The efficiency of synthesis of perfect match target sequences and mismatch sequences can be measured and compared.