Affymetrix Inc. (AFFX) and U.K.-based University of Bristol, have jointly designed a wheat genotyping array-Axiom Wheat Genotyping Array (Axiom Wheat Array). This marks an important step toward ensuring sustainable production while supporting the study of wheat genetics and breeding.
Axiom Wheat Array, comprising 817,000 markers, was designed for the University of Bristol. The initiative formed part of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)-funded Wheat Improvement Strategic Program (WISP) at the university.
The primary objective of WISP is to produce new and novel wheat germplasm via three complementary "pillars" (landraces, synthetics, and ancestral gene introgression). Such in-depth analysis is expected to expand the pool of genetic variation, particularly in elite wheat cultivars, in a different manner.
The innovative design of the Axiom Wheat Array includes both functional and positional annotation information for a variety of wheat species. However, the Axiom Wheat Genotyping arrays in the 384HT format complements the catalog of Axiom Genotyping Arrays for Agrigenomics which is also available for various species like salmon, maize, strawberry, rose, bovine, chicken and buffalo.
The 384HT format also enables ultra high-throughput processing of 384 samples. This in-built feature allows screening of thousands of samples at the same time, thus reducing costs to a great extent. Affymetrix plans to commercialize the new Axiom arrays to the public before the onset of the spring wheat season.
Results from the array will be presented at the 2014 Plant and Animal Genome conference (PAG XXII), in San Diego, Calif.
The results of the Axiom Wheat Array have been deemed impressive as it has helped WISP to track the different segments of the 'wheat relative' line and integrate them into hexaploid bread wheat through the breeding process.
The Axiom platform is expected to render improvements in custom genotyping capabilities, thus contributing to the agricultural, scientific and applied community.
The mutual efforts of both the bioinformatics and product support teams at Affymetrix have made it possible to complete the design and analysis in less than three months.
Frequent and unpredictable climatic changes at present pose a threat to wheat cultivation, especially at a time when the global population is on the rise. As such, the need for food grains is also growing very fast. Such comprehensive solutions should ensure adequate wheat production, without compromising on quality, in the long run.
Currently Affymetrix carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Investors interested in the industry can look into stock like Actelion Ltd. (ALIOF), Coronado Biosciences, Inc. (CNDO) and Gentium S.p.A (GENT), each carrying a Zacks Rank #1.
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