Combinatorial dna taggants and methods of preparation and use thereof

Abstract

DNA taggants in which the nucleotide sequences are defined according to combinatorial mathematical principles. Methods of defining nucleotide sequences of the combinatorial DNA taggants, and using such taggants for authentication and tracking and tracing an object or process are also disclosed.

1 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A combinatorial DNA taggant comprising a set of n(n−1)/2 unique bit register encoding strands, wherein:
 the n(n−1)/2 unique bit register encoding strands ES 1  through ES n(n-1)/2  are comprised of a first single stranded DNA strand selected from a set of unique single stranded DNA strand S 1  through S n-1 , and a second single stranded DNA strand selected from a set of unique reverse complement strands CS 2  through CS n , of the unique single stranded DNA strands S 1  through S n ; and wherein: 
 n−1 of the unique bit register encoding strands ES 1  through ES n(n-1)/2  are comprised of the unique single stranded DNA strand S 1  concatenated, respectively, with the unique reverse complement strands CS 2  through CS n , and for each of these concatenations, concatenated such that there are no nucleotide bases between the 3′ end of the respective unique single stranded DNA strand and the 5′ end of the unique reverse complement strand; and 
 the remainder of the unique bit register encoding strands are comprised of each of the remaining unique single stranded DNA strands S i  through S n-1  concatenated, respectively, with the remaining unique reverse complement strands CS i+1  through CS n , and for each of these concatenations, concatenated such that there are no nucleotide bases between the 3′ end of the respective remaining unique single stranded DNA strand and the 5′ end of the remaining unique reverse complement strand; where i is a natural number having an initial value of 2 and n is a natural number having a value greater than 2. 
 
     
     
         58 . A combinatorial DNA taggant comprising a set of n(n−1)/2 unique bit register encoding strands, wherein:
 the n(n−1)/2 unique bit register encoding strands ES 1  through ES n(n-1)/2  are comprised of a first single stranded DNA strand selected from a set of unique single stranded DNA strand S 1  through S n-1 , and a second single stranded DNA strand selected from a set of unique reverse complement strands CS 2  through CS n , of the unique single stranded DNA strands S 1  through S n : 
 n−1 of the unique bit register encoding strands ES 1  through ES n(n-1)/2  are comprised of the unique single stranded DNA strand S 1  concatenated, respectively, with the unique reverse complement strands CS 2  through CS n ; and 
 the remainder of the unique bit register encoding strands are comprised of each of the remaining unique single stranded DNA strands S i  through S n-1  concatenated, respectively, with the remaining unique reverse complement strands CS i+1  through CS n , where i is a natural number having an initial value of 2 and n is a natural number having a value greater than 2. 
 
     
     
         59 . The combinatorial DNA taggant of  claim 58 , wherein for the n−1 of the unique bit register encoding strands ES 1  through ES n(n-1)/2  and for the remainder of the unique bit register encoding strands they are concatenated such that there are no nucleotide bases between the 3′ end of the respective unique single stranded DNA strand and the 5′ end of the unique reverse complement strand. 
     
     
         60 . The combinatorial DNA taggant of  claim 58 , wherein each of the n(n−1)/2 bit register encoding strand molecules in the set are further comprised of a probe single stranded DNA strand concatenated between each of the n(n−1)/2 single stranded combinations of DNA table-mers and their reverse complements and wherein:
 the n(n−1)/2 unique bit register encoding strands ES 1  through ES n(n-1)/2  are comprised of a first single stranded DNA strand selected from the set of unique single stranded DNA strand S 1  through S n-1 , the probe singled stranded DNA strand, and a second single stranded DNA strand selected from a set of unique reverse complement strands CS 2  through CS n , of the unique single stranded DNA strands S 1  through S n-1 ; 
 n−1 of the unique bit register encoding strands ES 1  through ES n(n-1)/2  are comprised of the unique single stranded DNA strand S 1  concatenated with the probe single stranded DNA strand, and respectively concatenated with the unique reverse complement strands CS 2  through CS n , and for each of these concatenations, concatenated such that there are no nucleotide bases, other than the probe single stranded DNA strand, between the 3′ end of the respective unique single stranded DNA strand and the 5′ end of the unique reverse complement strand; and 
 the remainder of the unique bit register probe encoding strands are comprised of each of the remaining unique single stranded DNA strands S i  through S n-1  concatenated with the probe single stranded DNA strand respectively, and with the remaining unique reverse complement strands CS i+1  through CS n , and for each of these concatenations, concatenated such that there are no nucleotide bases, other than the probe single stranded DNA strand, between the 3′ end of the respective remaining unique single stranded DNA strand and the 5′ end of the remaining unique reverse complement strand; where i is a natural number having an initial value of 2 and n is a natural number having a value greater than 2. 
 
     
     
         61 . A combinatorial DNA taggant comprising a set of n(n−1)/2 unique bit register encoding strands, wherein:
 the n(n−1)/2 unique bit register encoding strands ProbeES 1  through ProbeES n(n-1)/2  are comprised of a first single stranded DNA strand selected from the set of unique single stranded DNA strand S 1  through S n-1 , the probe singled stranded DNA strand, and a second single stranded DNA strand selected from a set of unique reverse complement strands CS 2  through CS n , of the unique single stranded DNA strands S 1  through S n-1 ; 
 n−1 of the unique bit register encoding strands ProbeES 1  through ProbeES n(n-1)/2  are comprised of the unique single stranded DNA strand S 1  concatenated with the probe single stranded DNA strand, and respectively concatenated with the unique reverse complement strands CS 2  through CS n , and for each of these concatenations, concatenated such that there are no nucleotide bases, other than the probe single stranded DNA strand, between the 3′ end of the respective unique single stranded DNA strand and the 5′ end of the unique reverse complement strand; and 
 the remainder of the unique bit register probe encoding strands are comprised of each of the remaining unique single stranded DNA strands S i  through S n-1  concatenated with the probe single stranded DNA strand respectively, and with the remaining unique reverse complement strands CS i+1  through CS n , and for each of these concatenations, concatenated such that there are no nucleotide bases, other than the probe single stranded DNA strand, between the 3′ end of the respective remaining unique single stranded DNA strand and the 5′ end of the remaining unique reverse complement strand; where i is a natural number having an initial value of 2 and n is a natural number having a value greater than 2.