Homogeneous Detection of Specific DNA Sequences by Fluorescence Quenching and Energy Transfer

The use of fluorescence quenching and energy transfer in DNA hybridization assays is reviewed. Placement of DNA probe labels within interacting distances by hybridization of DNA probes to target DNA or to one another allows rapid homogeneous analysis of specific DNA sequences. Due to the inherently lower sensitivity relative to heterogeneous assays, the fluorescence assays have been coupled with DNA amplification methods such as PCR to provide highly sensitive, clinically relevant homogeneous assays which can be performed in closed systems.