76 results about "Gene Discovery" patented technology

Methods for preparing a biochip are provided herein wherein the biomolecular probe to be used with the biochip is alternatively bound to a hydrogel prepolymer prior to or simultaneously with polymerization of the prepolymer. In particularly preferred embodiments, a polyurethane-based hydrogel prepolymer is derivatized with an organic solvent soluble biomolecule, such as a peptide nucleic acid probe in aprotic, organic solvent. Following derivatization of the prepolymer, an aqueous solution, for example sodium bicarbonate, preferably buffered to a pH of about 7.2 to about 9.5, is added to the derivatized prepolymer solution to initiate polymerization of the hydrogel. Alternatively, a water soluble biomolecule, such as DNA or other oligonucleotide, is prepared in an aqueous solution and added to the polyurethane-based hydrogel prepolymer such that derivatization and polymerization occur, essentially, simultaneously. While the hydrogel is polymerizing, it is microspotted onto a solid substrate, preferably a silanated glass substrate, to which the hydrogel microdroplet becomes covalently bound. Most preferably the hydrogel microdroplets are at least about 30 mum thick, for example about 50 mum to about 100 mum thick. The resulting biochips are particularly useful for gene discovery, gene characterization, functional gene analysis and related studies.

A novel 3' gene trap cassette is described that does not encode a marker conferring antibiotic resistance and can be used to efficiently trap and identify cellular genes. Vectors incorporating the presently 3' gene trap cassette find particular application in gene discovery, the production of transgenic cells and animals, and gene activation.

Novel vectors are described that incorporate, inter alia, a novel 3' gene trap cassette which can be used to efficiently trap and identify previously unknown cellular genes. Vectors incorporating the described 3' gene trap cassette find particular application in gene discovery and in the production of mutated cells and animals.

Provided herein are methods for evaluating associations between candidate genes and a trait of interest in a population. The methods include a combination of genome-wide association analysis and one or more of nested association mapping (NAM), expression QTL analysis (eQTL), and allele epistastic analysis (AEA). Markers are selected or prioritized if they are shown to be positively-correlated with a trait of interest using GWA and a combination of one or both of NAM and eQTL. Also provided are models for evaluating the association between a candidate marker and a trait in a nested population of organisms. These methods include single marker regression and multiple marker regression models. Markers identified using the methods of the invention can be used in marker assisted breeding and selection, as genetic markers for constructing linkage maps, for gene discovery, for identifying genes contributing to a trait of interest, and for generating transgenic organisms having a desired trait.

Development of an efficient and cost-effective doubled haploid production system and genetic transformation system are the prerequisite to initiate haploid breeding and genetic modification in flax respectively. Pre-culturing anthers on a high osmotic, high auxin and high mineral salt concentration for a period of time before transfer to a low osmotic, low auxin and low salt concentration significantly increased the overall efficiency of regeneration or anther efficiency than directly culturing anthers on a low osmotic, low auxin and low salt concentration medium. This culture procedure also dramatically reduced the frequency of shoot regeneration from somatic cells in anther culture. Using this procedure, a highly efficient anther culture-derived callus based transformation system was developed. The transformation efficiency of anther culture-derived callus based transformation system was four times higher than the best reported transformation efficiency using hypocotyls as the ex-plants in Agrobacterium tumefaciens based transformation system or particle bombardment based transformation system. The frequency of escape in anther culture-derived callus based transformation system was one third of that in hypocotyl-based transformation system using A. tumefaciens or one half using particle bombardment. This very high efficient transformation system will prove to be very valuable in basic research for gene discovery and practical applications in genetic engineering for improved traits.

Novel genes that code for a family of feruloyl esterases that break down ferulic acid crosslinks between polysaccharide chains and between polysaccharides and lignins in plant cell walls are described herein as well as a method of rapid gene discovery.