By following a proprietary protocol, scientists will now be able to locate mutations within genes for a variety of scenarios: for detecting sequence changes of HIV mutants which generate drug resistance and for detecting sequence changes of genes in relation to cancer development.

Methods presently in use include cleavage of RNA-DNA hybrids at mutation sites using RNase A, reaction at mismatched sites using hydroxylamine or osmium tetroxide, and various electrophoretic techniques which can separate different DNA's based on intrastrand base pairing or mismatched duplexes. UCLA's procedure is superior to methods currently on the market because it does not require great skill, is applicable to all nucleic acid bases, does not require toxic reagents, and unlike its competitors, not only identifies the existance of a mutation, but its location as well.

Reference: UCLA Case No. 1997-539