Oligonucleotide probes and uses thereof

A method of generating a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecule comprising:

• (a) providing a mixture comprising:
• (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising:
• (1) a 5′ leader region comprising a lengthener region, a terminator region, and a forward primer region;
• (2) a variable region positioned 3′ of the leader region;
• and
• (3) a tail region positioned 3′ of the variable region and comprising a reverse primer region;
• and
• (ii) forward and reverse primers configured to amplify the nucleic acid molecule from the forward primer region and reverse primer region, respectively;
• and
• (b) performing asymmetric polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the mixture in a) to favorably amplify the reverse strand of the nucleic acid molecule, wherein the forward and reverse primers in the mixture are at a ratio of about 1:37.5 (F/R) in favor of the reverse primers;
• thereby generating the ssDNA molecule.