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(11)

EP 0 994 957 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 26.04.2000 Bulletin 2000/17 (21) Application number: 98938251.0 (22) Date of filing: 31.07.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/82, C12N 15/60, C12N 9/88, A01H 5/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9816/033 (87) International publication number: WO 9906/581 (11.02.1999 Gazette 1999/06)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 31.07.1997 US 54316 P (71) Applicant: Sanford Scientific, Inc. Waterloo, NY 13165 (US)	(72) Inventors: SANFORD, John Geneva, NY 14456 (US) BLOWERS, Alan, D. St. Charles, IL 60175 (US) SMITH, Franzine Geneva, NY 14456 (US) VAN ECK, Joyce Ithaca, NY 14850 (US) (74) Representative: Grund, Martin, Dr. et al Holbeinstrasse 5 81679 München 81679 München (DE)