Helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) is a method for in vitro DNA amplification like the polymerase chain reaction.

The disadvantage of PCR is that it consumes a lot of time with uncoiling the double-stranded DNA with heat into single strands (a proces called denaturation) and copying the single strands to create new double-stranded DNA (synthesis). Instead of these thermocycles, HDA mimics nature’s method of replicating DNA by using helicase (an enzyme) to denature the DNA at a constant temperature of 37°C.

The advantages of HDA over PCR are increased speed, reduced costs and the prospect of creating a hand-held DNA diagnostic device. The disadvantage is that HDA still requires a relatively big amount of DNA, so it presumably will not be used in cases where high precision is needed.

References

• Helicase-dependent isothermal DNA amplificationMyriam Vincent, Yan Xu & Huimin Kong EMBO reports AOP

doi:10.1038/sj.embor.7400200 Published online: 9 July 2004

• New Scientist article
• press release