The WAVE nucleic fragment analysis system performs rapid separation and quantification of single- and double-stranded nucleic acid fragments, allowing for mutation detection and SNP discovery.
The principle of fragment separation lies in the ability of the separation cartridge to bind double stranded DNA and release it as the helix of the molecule is unwound. The DNA is eluted from the column as an increasing concentration of acetonitrile flows across the matrix. Heteroduplexes formed in heterozygous samples will elute before homoduplexes, appearing ideally as two or more peaks in electropherograms.
Here is an example of a
mutation detected by WAVE analysis shown in an electropherogram
