title: Miniature continuous-flow polymerase chain reaction: a breakthrough?
abstract: A time-space conversion enables the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to be carried out in a continuous-flow process: the mobile reaction mixture is pumped continuously through a glass microchip and passes many times through three constant temperature zones (see picture). The flow rate can be varied to obtain an amplification time of only 90 s. When combined with other continuous-flow microdevices this micromachine may prove useful for routine medical applications and biochemical research.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Genzentrum, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, D-81377 München, Germany, Fax: (+49) 89-74017-448. zorbas@lmb.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zorbas
keywords: Analytical methods; Capillary electrophoresis; Microreactors; Nucleic acids; Polymerase chain reaction