“…The principal advantages of using surfacebound oligonucleotides over those in solution include ease of purification, conservation of material and reagents, reduction of interference between oligonucleotides and facilitated sample handling (12). Previously explored surfaces for immobilization of DNA include latex beads (5), polystyrene (1), carbon electrodes (22)(23)(24)(25), gold (17,23,(26)(27)(28) and oxidized silicon or glass (3,8,11,(29)(30)(31)(32). The surface chemistries involved with these substrates do not generally possess all of the desired characteristics of an ideal surface.…”