Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Studies Of Dna Hybridization Reactions And Applications In Genetic Assays, Fidelis Manyanga

Dissertations and Theses

The intent of this study was to investigate two fundamental aspects of short DNA duplex stability and how that stability differs for duplex molecules consisting of either all perfect match Watson/Crick base pairs or a mixture of perfect match Watson/Crick base pairs and mismatch base pairs. Theoretical and experimental investigations of the origins of the nucleation term in the free energy of DNA duplex formation were revisited. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH, Δ S and Tm) of short DNA/DNA duplexes ranging in length from 6 to 35 base pairs were systematically evaluated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry …