A method of determining whether or not a nucleic acid having an expected sequence or one or more variants of the expected sequence are present in a sample containing nucleic acids after replication, transcription or editing of a substrate nucleic acid. The reflective layer 10 includes an extension portion 10a which extends so as to cover almost all the sidewalls 21a of a light-emitting device in the vicinity of the sapphire substrate. An inside of each of the membrane elements is depressurized. In an alternative method of the present invention, both ends of the chip may be dipped in resistor paste to form resistors on both ends of the chip. The solid stage image sensor may be used in a camera and in a camera control system. Data from one or more analytical instruments andor software is inputted, and calculations are performed on the data to produce one or more outputs.