1. A method for counting the absolute copy number of a nucleic acid sequence in a cell, comprising the following steps:
(i) dividing a lysate of the cell or a lysate of a sample of the cell into a plurality of aliquots;
(ii) providing conditions suitable for the amplification of the nucleic acid sequence in each aliquot;
(iii) counting the number of aliquots in which the nucleic acid was amplified in step (ii) thus the copy number of the nucleic acid sequence in the cell.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in step (i) the lysate is divided into at least 8 aliquots per cell used to make the lysate.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lysate of step (i) is from a sample of 10 or fewer cells.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lysate of step (i) is from a single cell.
5. A method for counting the absolute copy number of a chromatid in a cell comprising:
(i) dividing a lysate of the cell or a lysate of a sample of the cell into a plurality of aliquots;
(ii) providing conditions suitable for the amplification of one or more nucleic acid marker(s) of the chromatid in each aliquot;
(iii) counting the number of aliquots in which the nucleic acid marker was amplified in step (ii) thus the copy number of the chromatid in the cell.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the copy number of a plurality of nucleic acid markers from the chromatid is determined in order to analyse multiple loci on the chromatid.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of nucleic acid markers comprises one or more pairs or multiples of markers which occur in close proximity on the chromatid.
8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the highest number indicated by the plurality of nucleic acid markers gives the absolute copy number of the chromatid in the cell.
9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the chromatid is from chromosome 21, 18 or 13.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising repeating steps (i)-(iii) for chromatids for each of chromosome 21, 18 and 13.
11. (canceled)
12. A method for investigating the ploidy status of a cell, comprising counting the absolute copy number of chromatids for each chromosome in the cell by the method according to claim 5.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cell is a polar body.
14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cell is derived from a cleavage stage embryo.
15. The method according to claim 1, where wherein the cell is a trophectoderm cell of a blastocyst.
16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cell is a fetal cell from an amniotic fluid or chorionic villus sample.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cell is in telophase.
18. The method of claim 5, wherein the cell is an oocyte.
19-22. (canceled)
23. The method according to claim 13, wherein the ploidy status of both polar body I and polar body II are investigated.
24. (canceled)
25. The method according to claim 5, wherein the amplification of the one or more nucleic acid marker(s) of the chromatid is performed with a plurality of primers capable of amplifying the nucleic acid markers from the chromatid.
26-29. (canceled)
30. A primer set comprising one or more primer(s) from those listed in Table 2.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An image providing apparatus comprising:
an optical housing which houses an image providing optical system for providing an image to an observer;
a head gear which is fitted to a head of the observer;
a supporting member provided to the head gear; and
a connecting member which connects the supporting member and the optical housing, wherein
the connecting member includes ball portions respectively on two ends thereof, and has a conical-movable range,
the ball portion on a first one of the ends is provided to the supporting member side, as being capable of maintaining a posture thereof,
the ball portion on the second one of the ends is provided to the optical housing side, as being capable of maintaining a posture thereof,
the connecting member includes a first member and a second member, and the first member is connected to the second member so as to be movable and capable of maintaining a posture thereof.
2. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a surface of the ball portion contains a rubber material as a major ingredient.
3. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each of the first member and the second member includes a connecting portion, and
the first member and the second member are connected to each other by pressure while having a rubber material therebetween.
4. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
one of the first member and the second member includes a ball portion constituting a connecting portion on one end thereof,
the other member includes a hollow member having a spherical hollow on one end thereof, and
the ball portion is fitted and connected to the hollow member.
5. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the supporting member is provided with a flexible piece,
the ball portion provided to the supporting member side, as being capable of maintaining the posture thereof, is in contact with the flexible piece, and
the flexible piece changes the degree of pressure against the ball portion according to the degree of pressure caused by a screw.
6. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the optical housing is provided with a flexible piece,
the ball portion provided to the optical housing side, as being capable of maintaining the posture thereof, is in contact with the flexible piece, and
the flexible piece changes the degree of pressure against the ball portion according to the degree of pressure caused by a screw.
7. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is formed into a bent shape.
8. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the ball portion on the first end is provided to the first member as being capable of maintaining the posture thereof against the supporting member,
a first end of the second member is provided as being capable of maintaining the posture thereof against the first member, and
the ball portion on the second end of the second member is provided to the optical housing side, as being capable of maintaining the posture thereof.
9. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first member and the second member includes ball portions respectively on two ends thereof.
10. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an intermediate connecting member provided as being capable of maintaining a posture thereof against the ball portion on the second end of the first member and against the ball portion on the first end of the second member.
11. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the first member and the second member respectively include ball portions each constituting a connecting portion, and
the ball portions are respectively connected to different locations on an intermediate connecting member.
12. The image providing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein a surface of the ball portion contains a rubber material as a major ingredient.