The present invention relates to means for the detection and characterization
of nucleic acid sequences, as well as variations in nucleic acid sequences. The
present invention also relates to methods for forming a nucleic acid cleavage structure
on a target sequence and cleaving the nucleic acid cleavage structure in a site-specific
manner. The structure-specific nuclease activity of a variety of enzymes is used
to cleave the target-dependent cleavage structure, thereby indicating the presence
of specific nucleic acid sequences or specific variations thereof.