Digital PCR (dPCR), as a new technology in the field of genetically modified (GM) organism (GMO) testing, enables determination of absolute target copy numbers. The purpose of our study was to test the transferability of methods designed for quantitative PCR (qPCR) to dPCR and to carry out an inter-laboratory comparison of the performance of two different dPCR platforms when determining the abs...

iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank my advisor, Dr. Gerhard Ritter, for the benefits of his guidance and experience, and Dr. Mark Schmalz for his assistance with proofreading this thesis, and his continued support during my undergraduate and graduate studies.

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences School of Computer Science Doctor of Philosophy Formal Verification of Privacy in Pervasive Systems by Loretta Ilaria Mancini Supervisor: Dr. Eike Ritter Co-Supervisor: Dr. Myrto Arapinis

aim : the aim of this survey was to compare four dna extraction methods from iranian sheep strain e.granulosus isolates. background : cystic echinococcosis (ce) caused by the metacestode of the dog tapeworm echinococcus spp., is a global zoonotic infection which is economically important and constitutes a major threat to public health in many countries. strains characterization is essential for...

The in situ preparation and isolation of surface methoxy species on acidic zeolites are followed by further investigations of their reactivity in heterogeneously catalyzed reactions. For the first time, the following solid-state NMR evidence for the high reactivity of surface methoxy species has been obtained: (i) Surface methoxy species react readily with ammonia on acidic zeolites at room tem...

The Amflora (EH92-527-1) potato is a genetically modified (GM) potato in which only starch of the amylopectin form is produced. This has been achieved by intervening with the biosynthesis of starch in this variety of potato. The Amflora potato is solely grown for the purposes of enhancing its industrial application. Although the Amflora potato is not fit for human consumption, the presence of t...

Many lines of genetically modified (GM) papaya (Carica papaya Linnaeus) have been developed worldwide to resist infection from various strains of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). We found an unidentified and unauthorized GM papaya in imported processed papaya food. Transgenic vector construct that provides resistance to the PRSV strains isolated in Thailand was detected. An original and specific r...

Prion protein knockout (PRNP(-/-)) cattle have been developed and may be used to produce bovine material such as serum, collagen, and gelatin. However, genetically engineered animals (GE animals) must not be imported or made commercially available in Japan, because they are not authorized for food use in Japan. We used real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) to develop method of det...

Patients with Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CN) type I inherit an autosomal recessive trait for hyperbilirubinemia, which is characterized by the total absence of bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (transferase) activity. The recent identification of two bilirubin transferase isoforms with identical carboxyl termini (Ritter, J. K., J. M. Crawford, and I. S. Owens. 1991. J. Biol. Chem. 266:1043-10...