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ZyGEM Releases Data Confirming its prepGEM(R) Insect Kit is a Simple, Rapid Method for Extracting Insect DNA for Species Identification

Posted on: Thursday, 15 October 2009, 07:15 CDT

SOLANA BEACH, Calif., and HAMILTON, New Zealand, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- ZyGEM Corp. Ltd., a provider of innovative enzyme-based products for DNA extraction and other life sciences applications, today announced the availability of a new application note documenting that its prepGEM® Insect DNA extraction kit is capable of producing high yields of high-quality, ready-to-analyze DNA that is sufficient to serve as a template for PCR without the need for further amplification.

The application note also shows that in conjunction with multiplex PCR, this extracted DNA can rapidly and reliably identify various insect species at all life stages. This capability addresses an important unmet need--current insect identification techniques, including morphology, do not allow for reliable identification of immature insects. With access to high-throughput, reliable species identification regardless of life stage, optimal insect control and market allocation measures can be implemented earlier and more effectively. The prepGEM® Insect kit uses a single closed-tube system that reduces extraction time and cost while protecting the sample from contamination. The kit is also designed for easy adaptation for automation with most off-the-shelf systems.

"Data in this prepGEM® Insect application note confirms that our kits easily and rapidly extract DNA from insect samples, allowing researchers to identify species at all life stages, even at those early stages that typically make accurate identification difficult," said Paul Kinnon, CEO of ZyGEM. "The molecular detection of insect species offers growers major advantages over conventional approaches, and the speed and ease-of-use afforded by our prepGEM® kit allows for rapid DNA-based detection and monitoring of different insect species efficiently and reliably, without significant investment of time or hardware. We believe that these advantages make our prepGEM® Insect kits especially valuable for the agricultural industry."

In the application note, researchers at the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research describe their experience extracting DNA for species determination from samples of three distinct insect species typically found on kiwifruit, a major New Zealand food crop. They performed extractions with ZyGEM's prepGEM® Insect kit, then ran the samples through a multiplex PCR. The prepGEM® Insect kit extracted sufficient DNA to serve as a template for PCR with a single temperature-controlled reaction using its unique combination of thermophilic enzymes and a buffer with proprietary agents that enhance cell lysis. Results showed that prepGEM® Insect's simple reaction in a single closed tube efficiently extracted high quality DNA from all of the insect sample types.

The prepGEM® Insect kit is compatible with all PCR detection and amplification reagents. The stability of the prepGEM® reagents allows convenient storage of the kit at 4°C, reducing preparation time and increasing ease of use.

ZyGEM offers a growing number of application notes for its prepGEM®, forensicGEM® and livestockGEM® families of kits. ZyGEM application notes can be accessed at www.zygem.com/Products/Products-Pubs.html.

ZyGEM's proprietary technology uses a thermophilic enzyme to extract DNA from samples using a single closed-tube system. ZyGEM's approach significantly reduces the time and cost of DNA extractions while simplifying laboratory workflow, minimizing error, reducing the risk of contamination, ensuring sample integrity and facilitating extractions from trace samples. It is easily adaptable for use with virtually all off-the-shelf laboratory automation systems. The technology can be specifically formulated for use with a wide range of different sample types without the need for further purification. ZyGEM's technology has been validated for use in highly regulated applications, including forensic analysis. For more information on ZyGEM's families of DNA extraction kits, visit www.zygem.com/Products/Products-Ovw.html or email info@zygem.com.

About ZyGEM's prepGEM® Kits

prepGEM® kits have been formulated for high-throughput DNA extraction from animal tissue samples for life science research, animal testing and traceability, selective breeding and other animal health and agricultural applications. prepGEM® kits enable high-throughput DNA extraction of 384 samples in less than 30 minutes. They contain reagents that have been optimized for downstream PCR-based applications including quantitative PCR, genotyping using STRs or SNPs, RFLP analyses, etc. prepGEM® kits are proven on a range of animal samples including blood, micro-biopsies (ear tags), meat, rat tails, fish, fish tails and insects.

About ZyGEM Corporation

ZyGEM Corporation Limited is a rapidly growing biotechnology company with a range of innovative enzyme-based products and technologies based on the company's exclusive collection of microorganisms from extreme environments. ZyGEM's technology has significant competitive advantages over existing methods and has potential applications in a number of sizeable global markets. ZyGEM currently produces DNA extraction and detection products, molecular biology enzymes and individual enzymes and diagnostics, serving life sciences customers in basic research, forensics, clinical diagnostics and agriculture. ZyGEM has facilities in New Zealand and the U.S.A. For more information, visit www.ZyGEM.com.

Contacts: Media: Corporate: GendeLLindheim BioCom Partners Paul Kinnon Barbara Lindheim President and CEO 212 918-4650 858 720-8333

SOURCE ZyGEM Corp. Ltd.

Source: PR Newswire

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