Thermal cycling by positioning relative to fixed-temperature heat source

A thermal cycling system for performing a polymerase chain reaction amplification protocol comprising multiple cycles of three temperature-dependent stages of template denaturation, about 90° C., primer annealing about 60° C. and primer extension, about 68° C. that constitute a single cycle of PCR, the thermal cycycling system comprising a) a heat source that is set at a fixed temperature;

• b) a reaction vessel containing material upon which a polymerase chain reaction amplification protocol is to be performed;
• c) mechanically-operable means for altering the relative position of the heat source and the reaction vessel so that, the temperature of the reaction vessel is achieved and is maintained for carrying out template denaturation on said material, and then for altering the relative position of the heat source and the reaction vessel so that, the temperature of the reaction vessel is achieved and is maintained for carrying out primer annealing on the material and then for altering the relative position of the heat source and the reaction vessel so that, the temperature of the reaction vessel is achieved and is maintained for carrying out primer extension on the material;
• and d) temperature-sensing means operatively associated with the reaction vessel for controlling the altering of the relative position of the heat source and the reaction vessel so that the reaction vessel achieves and maintains the desired second temperature in the reaction vessel.

A method for performing a biological reaction at two or more different temperatures, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) placing a reaction vessel containing a biological mixture in a position with respect to a heat source that is set at a fixed temperature to allow said reaction vessel to achieve and maintain a desired first temperature for starting the carrying out of said biological reaction;
• b) relatively moving said reaction vessel with respect to said heat source, thereby to achieve and maintain a second temperate for continuing the carrying out of said biological reaction on the biological material;
• and
• c) controlling the relative movement of said heat source and said reaction vessel by a temperature sensor which is operatively associated with said reaction vessel to achieve and maintain a desired reaction temperatures in said reaction vessel.

A method for performing a polymerase chain reaction amplification protocol comprising multiple cycles of three sequential temperature-dependent stages that constitute a single cycle of PCR:

• comprising template denaturation, primer annealing;
• and primer extension on a biological material, the method comprising the steps of:
• a) placing a reaction vessel containing said biological material in a position with respect to a heat source that is set at a fixed temperature to allow the reaction vessel to achieve and maintain a desired temperature for carrying out template denaturation;
• b) relatively moving said reaction vessel with respect to said heat source, thereby to achieve a suitable temperature of said reaction vessel for carrying out primer annealing;
• c) relatively moving said reaction vessel with respect to said heat source thereby to achieve a suitable temperature of said reaction vessel for carrying out primer extension;
• and
• d) controlling the relative movement of said heat source and said reaction vessel by a temperature-sensor which is operatively associated with said reaction vessel to achieve and maintain the desired template denaturation, primer annealing;
• and primer extension temperatures that constitute a single cycle of PCR in the reaction vessel