Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A method for generating and analyzing micro-libraries of cellular clones, comprising the steps of: (A) providing a population of mother cells that represents a plurality of microscopic subpopulations that differ, one from the other, by at least one genetic characteristic; (B) immobilizing said population such that said mother cells are retained and the approximate density of said subpopulations in said population on said surface is between 10 subpopulations per mm 2 and 10 6 subpopulations per mm 2 ; then (C) bringing said first surface into close proximity of a second surface such that (i) daughter cells replicated from said mother cells, but not said mother cells, come into contact with and are immobilized on said second surface during the process of replication or after separating from said mother cells, and (ii) subpopulations of said daughter cells immobilized on said second surface are positioned thereon in a spatial relationship with respect to one another which is substantially similar to the spatial relationships with respect to one another of said subpopulations of mother cells immobilized on said first surface such that corresponding mother cell and daughter cell subpopulations can be identified by their similar positions in said spacial relationships on the two surfaces, thereafter (D) treating said second surface such that microscopic subpopulations of said daughter cells are rendered distinguishable, one from the other; and then (E) examining said second surface to detect the presence of at least one microscopic subpopulation of daughter cells.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
243 words
A method for generating and analyzing micro-libraries of cellular clones, comprising the steps of: (A) providing a population of mother cells that represents a plurality of microscopic subpopulations that differ, one from the other, by at least one genetic characteristic; (B) immobilizing said population such that said mother cells are retained and the approximate density of said subpopulations in said population on said surface is between 10 subpopulations per mm 2 and 10 6 subpopulations per mm 2 ; then (C) bringing said first surface into close proximity of a second surface such that (i) daughter cells replicated from said mother cells, but not said mother cells, come into contact with and are immobilized on said second surface during the process of replication or after separating from said mother cells, and (ii) subpopulations of said daughter cells immobilized on said second surface are positioned thereon in a spatial relationship with respect to one another which is substantially similar to the spatial relationships with respect to one another of said subpopulations of mother cells immobilized on said first surface such that corresponding mother cell and daughter cell subpopulations can be identified by their similar positions in said spacial relationships on the two surfaces, thereafter (D) treating said second surface such that microscopic subpopulations of said daughter cells are rendered distinguishable, one from the other; and then (E) examining said second surface to detect the presence of at least one microscopic subpopulation of daughter cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said mother cells and said daughter cells are selected form the group consisting of cells that contain genomic clones, cells that contain cDNA clones, cells that express exogenously derived genetic elements, hybridoma cells, cells for mutagenicity testing, cells for carcinogenicity testing, and mixtures of such cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said mother and daughter cells are bacterial, yeast, insect, plant or mammalian cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said mother and daughter cells are bacterial cells in micro-colonies of 100 to 100,000 cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said mother and daughter cells are E. coli cells in micro-colonies of 100 to 100,000 cells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said mother and daughter cells are yeast cells in micro-colonies of 10 to 10,000 cells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said mother and daughter cells are higher eukaryotic cells, in micro-colonies of 1 to 1,000 cells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said mother and daughter cells are insect cells, plant cells or mammalian cells in micro-colonies of 1 to 1,000 cells.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said mother and daughter cells are mammalian cells in micro-colonies of 1 to 1,000 cells.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said mother cells and said daughter cells comprise a genomic library or a cDNA library.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said mother cells and said daughter cells comprise a YAC genomic library.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said mother cells and said daughter cells comprise a human genomic library or a human cDNA library.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said mother cells and said daughter cells comprise a YAC human genomic library.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said mother and daughter cells are hybridoma cells.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said mother and daughter cells are human lymphocytes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said subpopulation on said second surface is rendered distinguishable by hybridization to a detectably labelled polynucleotide probe.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said subpopulation on said second surface is rendered distinguishable by a hybridization method comprising the polymerization chain reaction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said subpopulation on said second surface is rendered distinguishable by an immunologically reactive reagent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said subpopulation on said second surface is rendered distinguishable by radioactive, colorimetric, fluorescent, phosphorescent, luminescent, chemiluminescent, affinity, or enzymatic detectable labels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first surface is maintained above said second surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said mother cells are placed randomly on said first surface and said daughter cells are disposed in substantially the same arrangement on said second surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said mother cells are placed on said first surface in a predetermined spatial relationship, and said daughter cells are disposed in substantially the same predetermined arrangement on said second surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said predetermined spatial relationship is effected by means of a pattern of cell-adherent and cell-nonadherent materials which determines the location of said mother-cells and said daughter cells on said surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second surfaces provide access to media to support cell growth and division while being maintained in proximity to immobilize said daughter cell population on said second surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the closest proximity of said first and second surfaces is maintained by inert spacers fixably attached to either said first or said second surface or to both surfaces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second surfaces are detachably affixed in rigid supporting members, wherein the proximity of said surfaces is controlled by micrometer movements of said supporting members.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said micrometer movements are driven by stepper motors which may be manually or automatically regulated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said cells on said surfaces are examined by microscopy and said detectably labelled cells are determined by a method comprising microscopy.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said microscopic examination comprises detection of a colorimetric, fluorescent, luminescent, chemiluminescent or radiographic signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said cells on said surfaces are imaged and said detectably labelled cells are determined by a method comprising a charge-coupled device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 30, wherein said charge-coupled device is used to determine a colorimetric, fluorescent, luminescent, chemiluminescent or radiographic signal.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for generating micro-libraries of cellular clones, comprising the steps of: (A) providing a population of mother cells that represents a plurality of microscopic subpopulations that differ, one from the other, by at least one genetic characteristic; (B) immobilizing said population on a first surface such that said mother cells are retained and the approximate density of said subpopulations in said population is between 10 subpopulations per mm 2 and 10 6 subpopulations per mm 2 ; then (C) bringing said first surface into close proximity of a second surface such that (i) daughter cells replicated from said mother cells, but not said mother cells, come into contact with and are immobilized on said second surface during the process of replication or after separating from said mother cells, and (ii) subpopulations of said daughter cells immobilized on said second surface are positioned thereon in a spatial relationship with respect to one another which is substantially similar to the spatial relationships with respect to one another of said subpopulations of mother cells immobilized on said first surface such that corresponding mother cell and daughter cell subpopulations can be identified by their similar positions in said spacial relationships on the two surfaces.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for generating micro-libraries of cellular clones, comprising the steps of: (A) providing a population of mother cells that represents a plurality of microscopic subpopulations that differ, one from the other, by at least one genetic characteristic; (B) immobilizing said population on a first surface such that said mother cells are retained and the approximate density of said subpopulations in said population is between 10 subpopulations per mm 2 and 10 6 subpopulations per mm 2 ; then (C) bringing said first surface into close proximity of a second surface such that (i) daughter cells replicated from said mother cells, but not said mother cells, come into contact with and are immobilized on said second surface during the process of replication or after separating from said mother cells, and (ii) subpopulations of said daughter cells immobilized on said second surface are positioned thereon in a spatial relationship with respect to one another which is substantially similar to the spatial relationships with respect to one another of said subpopulations of mother cells immobilized on said first surface such that corresponding mother cell and daughter cell subpopulations can be identified by their similar positions in said spacial relationships on the two surfaces.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said mother cells and said daughter cells are selected from the group consisting of cells that contain genomic clones, cells that contain cDNA clones, cells that express exogenously derived genetic elements, hybridoma cells, cells for mutagenicity testing, cells for carcinogenicity testing, and mixtures of such cells.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said mother and daughter cells are bacterial, yeast, insect, plant or mammalian cells.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said mother and daughter cells are bacterial cells in micro-colonies of 100 to 100,000 cells.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said mother and daughter cells are E. coli cells in micro-colonies of 100 to 100,000 cells.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said mother and daughter cells are yeast cells in micro-colonies of 10 to 10,000 cells.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said mother and daughter cells are higher eukaryotic cells, in micro-colonies of 1 to 1,000 cells.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said mother and daughter cells are insect cells, plant cells or mammalian cells in micro-colonies of 1 to 1,000 cells.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 39, wherein said mother and daughter cells are mammalian cells in micro-colonies of 1 to 1,000 cells.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said mother cells and said daughter cells comprise a genomic library of a cDNA library.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 41, wherein said mother cells and said daughter cells comprise a YAC genomic library.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 42, wherein said mother cells and said daughter cells comprise a human genomic library or a human cDNA library.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 43, wherein said mother cells and said daughter cells comprise a YAC human genomic library.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said mother and daughter cells are hybridoma cells.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 45, wherein said mother and daughter cells are human lymphocytes.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said first surface is maintained above said second surface.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said mother cells are placed randomly on said first surface and said daughter cells are disposed in substantially the same arrangement on said second surface.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said mother cells are placed on said first surface in a predetermined spatial relationship, and said daughter cells are disposed in substantially the same predetermined arrangement on said second surface.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 49, wherein said predetermined spatial relationship is effected by means of a pattern of cell-adherent and cell-nonadherent materials which determines the location of said mother-cells and said daughter cells on said surface.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said first and second surfaces provide access to media to support cell growth and division while being maintained in proximity to immobilize said daughter cell population on said second surface.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 32, wherein the closest proximity of said first and second surfaces is maintained by inert spacers fixably attached to either said first or said second surface or to both surfaces.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said first and second surfaces are detachably affixed in rigid supporting members, wherein the proximity of said surfaces is controlled by micrometer movements of said supporting members.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 53, wherein said micrometer movements are driven by stepper motors which may be manually or automatically regulated.