Disclosed are methods for detecting a target nucleic acid molecule having
a known sequence among a plurality of nucleic acid molecules. The method
includes hybridizing two oligonucleotides to adjacent nucleotide
sequences on the target nucleic acid molecule, ligating the two
oligonucleotides together, and extending a primer that hybrizes to the 3'
end of the oligonucleotide that hybrized to the 5' nucleotide sequence on
the target nucleic acid molecule. If the target nucleic acid molecule is
present (and thereby allowing ligation of the two oligonucleotides),
extension of the primer dislodges a detection probe hybridized to the 5'
end of the oligonucleotide that hybridized to the 3' nucleotide sequence
on the target nucleic acid molecule.Also disclosed are kits for
performing the methods of the invention.