[Lady Hamster]

Hi
I have an experiment in which I have to determine thermodynamic parameters, ΔH and ΔS, and use them to estimate the detection sensitivity and the dynamic range of a DNA probe. I'm struggling to understand how these thermodynamic parameters can indicate such.
Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

[Arkcon]

To start with, you will have to define, as best you can, the reaction you DNA probe will undergo.  After that, well, we all have lots of work to do, and I'm not the best at it.  But we will have to start with your reaction, including how you'll detect that its happening.

[Lady Hamster]

Okay, the reaction is between molecular beacons and a target oligonucleotide. Molecular beacons fluoresce when they bind to their target sequence. The experiment involved a small concentration of molecular beacons being mixed with an excess of its complementary target. The fluorescence was measured at varying temperatures. Through some data analysis, I have determined the ΔH and ΔS values. I just have no idea what they tell me in terms of the molecular beacons properties.

I know this is a bit of a long shot but it's pretty much my last hope.

[Corribus]

Sensitivity will be related to how often a binding event occurs. Try to frame this in terms of a chemical reaction. The amount of "product" formed at equilibrium is obviously related to the thermodynamic parameters you calculated.