Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification  From
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Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA)[1] is a
variation of the multiplex polymerase chain reaction that
permits multiple targets to be amplified with only a single
primer pair.[1] Each probe consists of two oligonucleotides
which recognise adjacent target sites on the DNA. One probe
oligonucleotide contains the sequence recognised by the forward
primer, the other the sequence recognised by the reverse primer.
Only when both probe oligonucleotides are hybridised to their
respective targets, can they be ligated into a complete probe.
The advantage of splitting the probe into two parts is that only
the ligated oligonucleotides, but not the unbound probe
oligonucleotides, are amplified. If the probes were not split in
this way, the primer sequences at either end would cause the
probes to be amplified regardless of their hybridization to the
template DNA, and the amplification prod