Heteroduplex analysis

Heteroduplex analysis (HDA) is a method in biochemistry used to detect point mutations in DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) since 1992.

[1][2] This method of analysis depend up on the fact that heteroduplexes shows reduced mobility relative to the homoduplex DNA.

Small deletions or insertion create bulge-type heteroduplexes which is stable and is verified by electron microscope.

[6] Single base substitutions creates more unstable heteroduplexes called bubble-type heteroduplexes, because of low stability it is difficult to visualize in electron microscopy.

[5] HDA is widely used for rapid screening of mutation of the 3 bp p.F508del deletion in the CFTR gene.