Syngene's GeneGenius at Leading UK University Is Helping Accurately Detect Mutations in Microbial DNA

July 19th 2005: Cambridge, UK: Syngene, a world-leading manufacturer of image analysis solutions, is pleased to announce its GeneGenius imaging system is being used at a highly respected UK University as an inexpensive method of locating and analysing polymorphisms in SYBR^® Green stained microbial DNA.

Researchers at the University are using the GeneGenius to find mutations in genomic DNA isolated from environmentally important microorganisms. The genomic DNA is used to produce nested PCR fragments, which are run on TTGE (temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis) gels and stained with SYBR Green.

A Lecturer at the University stated: “The search for mutations in microorganisms is helping us to identify species, delineate population structure and monitor genetic diversity. We use TTGE gels and SYBR Green staining as it allows us to detect even single-base changes in the small amounts of DNA we have to work with.”

“Detecting SYBR Green usually requires an expensive phosphor imaging system, but we have found the GeneGenius is a good alternative to this as the sensitivity is similar. The major advantages of using the GeneGenius are, it is much less expensive and it produces small image files that are easy to store,” added the Lecturer.

Laura Sullivan, Syngene’s Divisional Manager commented: “For detection and analysis of DNA stained with a range of different dyes the GeneGenius, we believe, is currently the best system on the market. We are excited that this research at one of the UK’s leading universities proves a GeneGenius can analyse a difficult to detect dye, as it will give other molecular biologists the confidence to put the true imaging capabilities of this exceptional system to the test.”

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SYBR^â is a trademark of Molecular Probes Inc.

Note to Editors

About Syngene

Syngene is a world-leading supplier of integrated imaging solutions for analysis and documentation of gel-based information. Syngene’s systems are used by more than 10,000 research organisations and over 50,000 individual scientists world-wide and include many of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies and major research institutes.

Syngene, founded in 1997 is a division of the Synoptics Group based in Cambridge, UK. The Group’s other divisions, Syncroscopy and Synbiosis, specialise in digital imaging solutions for microscopy and microbial applications respectively. Synoptics currently employs 60 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, USA. The Group has profitable revenue of almost $10 million and continues to grow rapidly.