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BioDiagnostics expands molecular breeding/genomic testing
capabilities
Company adds iScan testing platform and bioinformatics specialist
River Falls, Wis., (April 15, 2013) – BioDiagnostics Inc. (BDI) strives to guide customers to
success with accurate information and a clear understanding of that information, and now
the company has even more to offer those in the market for molecular breeding and
genomic testing services. With the addition of iScan technology, BDI can analyze large-scale
single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker sets, and provide plant breeders with highdensity marker data in an accurate and cost-effective manner.
The iScan system from Illumina, Inc. is a cutting-edge array scanner to which very few
independent seed testing labs have access. With this system, BDI can conduct whole
genome scans using SNP markers at extremely high marker densities to identify marker–
trait associations in genome-wide association mapping projects. The iScan system allows
BDI to identify up to 55,000 genetic markers in less than a tenth of the time it formerly took
to identify just 384, with no loss in data quality. The platform greatly enhances the
company’s ability to help plant breeders identify desirable traits like disease and drought
resistance quickly and efficiently, regardless of plant species.
“The breadth of what we can do with this technology is remarkable,” said BDI molecular
breeding and genomics technology manager Venki Pegadaraju. “The iScan system has the
dual capability to support both Golden Gate and Infinium chemistries and its application in
molecular breeding projects is diverse, ranging from genetic variation assessment to trait
mapping studies. We can now process exponentially more data in a way that is very costeffective for our clients.”
Bioinformatics specialist added
To interpret the millions of weekly data points generated with the iScan platform, BDI also
has invested in a bioinformatics specialist, a highly trained technician dedicated to
extracting useful results from reams of data and interpreting it for clients’ specific needs.
BDI prides itself on presenting test results in a manner that will help guide clients to
success, and a dedicated on-staff bioinformatics specialist is a resource available to few seed
testing labs.
“We believe that providing our customers with understanding of the data we produce is just
as important, if not more so, than the data itself,” said BDI president Quentin Schultz. “And
we continue to invest in the technology and people that make that happen on a broader
scale. Just two years ago, some of these cutting-edge testing methods were cost prohibitive
for many of our customers, but this and other recent investments allow us to offer more
testing services to more potential clients in more industries.”
The iScan technology supplements the lab’s Douglas Scientific Array Tape Platform, a highly
automated, modular system that tripled the BDI capacity for high-throughput genetic
screening. The Douglas platform was introduced to BDI customers in early 2012 and
lowered the cost-per-data-point by more than 50 percent by offering highly adaptable
genotyping with smaller panels of SNP markers. Together, the iScan and Douglas units offer
genotyping capabilities of tremendous flexibility, which is beneficial to molecular breeding
programs of any size, across a wide range of crop species.
BDI is an independent testing laboratory serving the seed industry around the world. It has
developed the most knowledgeable and experienced team of seed technologists in the
industry by combining years of agribusiness experience with a strong academic foundation.
BDI understands the technology behind the test, and it consults with customers to improve
processes in plant breeding and seed production. Research and development at BDI drives
innovation to provide new solutions for the ever-changing needs of the seed industry.
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For more information contact:
Craig Nelson
BioDiagnostics Inc.
715-426-0246
www.biodiagnostics.net
Craig.Nelson@biodiagnostics.net