New Indexing Technology Offers Optimal Combination of Throughput and
Cost for Low-Complexity Sample Screening
Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) today launched GoldenGate Indexing, a
high-throughput genotyping solution that utilizes multi-sample indexing
technology. Researchers may now screen up to 16 times as many samples
per reaction as the standard GoldenGate Assay, increasing throughput
from 288 samples per day to greater than 2000, while decreasing total
reagent consumption. This high-quality genotyping system includes
automation control and positive sample tracking through an Illumina
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), creating a turnkey
solution for low-complexity screening at an affordable cost per sample.
The plexity ranges include 96-plex, 192-plex and 384-plex, which are
ideal for screening in the livestock and agriculture market as well as
for whole-genome association target validation and quality control
applications.
Livestock geneticists, including Curt Van Tassell of the USDA
Agricultural Research Service, worked with Illumina to develop
GoldenGate Indexing and are now working on a custom panel for screening
livestock. Replacing older methods will allow livestock screening labs
to better access genetic information of value. For example, breeders use
SNP data to identify DNA markers for applications such as identifying
parentage and economically important traits, including disease
resistance, marbling, and feed efficiency. With Illumina’s new
GoldenGate Indexing, researchers will have a higher degree of
multiplexing options at a cost they can afford.
“Both livestock and crop researchers have a vested interest in adopting
low-plex, high-sample throughput genotyping as a more efficient method
for screening. GoldenGate Indexing offers genetic laboratories the
opportunity to expand their existing efforts in molecular breeding with
a low-cost, fully automated system for fixed and custom content
studies,” said Joel McComb, senior vice president and general manager of
Illumina’s Life Sciences business unit.
The Illumina GoldenGate Assay is a flexible, pre-optimized assay
providing consistent, high-quality genotyping results. GoldenGate
Indexing leverages this proven technology by evolving it into a
high-sample throughput solution with fully integrated automation and
sample tracking capabilities.
GoldenGate Indexing represents only one aspect of Illumina’s broad
portfolio of genetic analysis tools for human and agricultural research.
