US Patent 7939258 Nucleic acid amplification procedure using RNA and DNA composite primers

The invention provides methods for amplification of polynucleotide sequences using primers containing single-stranded RNA. The methods employ use of an enzyme capable of cleaving single-stranded RNA, such as RNase I, to degrade a first RNA-containing primer prior to addition of a second RNA-containing primer. The invention also provides compositions and kits for practicing the amplification methods, as well as methods which use the amplification products.