Nucleic acid probes having highly hydrophilic non-nucleosidic tags with multiple labels, and uses thereof

A method for detection of a target nucleic acid, the method comprising:

• combining a sample suspected of comprising said target nucleic acid with a probe comprising a nucleic acid moiety and at least one tag moiety, wherein said tag moiety has the structure:
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• where Lp is a spacing monomer, Np is an internal monomer providing an attachment site for a label, tNp is an internal monomer at a terminal position providing an attachment site for a label or a monovalent 5′ amino-modifier, and Yp is a bi-branching monomer having the structure:
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• wherein the sample and probe are combined under conditions wherein said probe specifically hybridizes to said target nucleic acid;
• washing away unhybridized probe;
• and
• detecting the presence of said probe.

A method for detection of a target nucleic acid, the method comprising:

• combining a sample suspected of containing said target nucleic acid, wherein nucleic acids in said sample are attached to a solid support via a cleavage site, with a probe comprising a nucleic acid moiety and at least one tag moiety, wherein said tag moiety has the structure:
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• where Lp is a spacing monomer, Np is an internal monomer providing an attachment site for a label, tNp is an internal monomer at a terminal position providing an attachment site for a label or a monovalent 5′ amino-modifier, and Yp is a bi-branching monomer having the structure:
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• wherein the sample and probe are combined under conditions wherein said probe specifically hybridizes to said target nucleic acid;
• washing away unhybridized probe;
• cleaving said probe at said specific cleavage sites to release said target DNA;
• moving said released target DNA to a separate container;
• and
• detecting the presence of said target DNA.