Genomics | Tissue Analysis

Genomics

In typical genomic applications, nucleic acid probes are commonly used in solution, or immobilized at different positions on a solid substrate to analyze the composition of DNA or RNA in a sample (i.e. ‘DNA microarrays’, also known as ‘DNA chips’ or ‘arrays’).  Despite the wide use of nucleic acid probes and microarrays to make rapid and high-throughput analyses, technical problems remain both in their manufacture and performance.  Often the specificity of the probes is less than ideal.

Approaches that employ probe chemistries other than DNA offer exciting new product development opportunities to improve specificity in solution and microarray applications.  Syntrix is meeting these opportunities by developing new fluorogenic probe chemistries with enhanced specificity.

These development efforts are supported by two multi-year Fast-Track grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI, IMAT Program).  The probe technology will be incorporated and tested in solution and in microarrays prepared according to several methods, including the Company's proprietary Synthetic MatrixÔ technology.  Synthetic MatrixÔ technology uses novel and proprietary photofilms as described in the Company's U.S. Patent 6,569,598.