Latest News From Amplicon Express

2011-06-14:  NCGR and KeyGene in agreement to boost genome sequence assemblies

Today, the NCGR Sequencing Center and KeyGene announced they have entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement that will enable NCGR to market and execute sequence-based physical mapping projects using the proprietary KeyGene® Whole Genome Profiling (WGP™) technology.

The agreement enables NCGR to combine its sequencing and informatics capabilities with KeyGene's physical mapping technology to deliver superior quality genome assemblies. Under the agreement NCGR and KeyGene collaborate to provide customers with a fast and comprehensive solution for genome sequencing projects.

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2009-01-12:  KeyGene and Amplicon Express announce Whole Genome Profiling, a method that enables fast and efficient Whole Genome Sequencing of plant and animal genomes

The Whole Genome Profiling (WGP) method enables the de novo construction of a complete high quality physical map. This sequence-based physical map forms the framework to construct a complete genome sequence assembly of plant and animal genomes in a fast and cost-effective manner. The automated and robotized BAC pooling strategies of Amplicon Express combined with KeyGene's next generation sequencing strategies and dedicated software tools, made it possible to generate a high resolution assembly of the 450 Mbp melon genome.

At the 16th annual Plant and Animal Genome conferences held in San Diego, USA from January 10 through January 14, 2009, KeyGene and Amplicon Express will announce this new method. "Combining the expertise and innovative capacity of both Amplicon Express and KeyGene provide Life Sciences researchers a new and exciting method for fast and high quality genome assembly and sequencing that will boost genome and gene function research considerably" says Arjen van Tunen, CEO of KeyGene. "Both KeyGene and Amplicon Express are committed to roll out this novel proprietary method in a fast and broad way."

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Thu, 02 Nov 2006 08:00:00 EST:  Amplicon Express and VWR International announce mutual services and partnership agreement.

West Chester, PA and Pullman, WA, November 1, 2006-Amplicon Express, Inc., a molecular biology service provider, and VWR International, Inc., which has established VWR BioSciences program to offer broader bioscience solutions to customers with high quality research services and next generation technologies, today announced the formation of a strategic marketing alliance. Under the terms of the agreement, Amplicon Express and VWR BioSciences will co-market a comprehensive suite of high quality BAC library construction and DNA sequencing services to the life science industry.

Robert Bogden, President, Amplicon Express, Inc. said "VWR BioSciences has assembled an amazing portfolio of highly specialized companies providing state-of-the-art genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic products and services to their clients. Amplicon Express is proud to be part of the foundation for VWR's recent expansion into the contract services domain. Academic researchers, biotech companies and pharmaceutical companies will now have confidence outsourcing important work like BAC library construction and DNA sequencing to VWR-approved companies. Amplicon Express will continue to focus on building the world's highest quality BAC libraries for the lowest prices possible." Zishan Haroon, M.D., Ph.D., general manager and global vice president, VWR BioSciences said "VWR BioSciences offers contract based research services to allow our customers to work more efficiently and with greater confidence in drug discovery and development. We are delighted to have Amplicon Express as part of our portfolio and are confident that their services will be helpful to our clients in their discovery pursuits."

Download the full press release: Amplicon Express/VWR Partnership Press Release

Wed, 27 Sept 2006 08:00:00 EST:  Premade Libraries Pricing Structure Changed

Amplicon Express has recently changed the way it prices it's premade BAC libraries to allow you, the researcher, more flexibility and options based on your current research needs.

Instead of needing to purchase a complete library copy before additional services are available, you can now purchase any service associated with one of our premade BAC libraries such as nylon filters, pools and superpools, or even plating and picking of individual clones.

If you are looking for a particular service that is not found with one of our premade libraries, please contact Robert Bogden with your request.

Thurs, 14 Sept 2006 08:00:00 EST:  Amplicon Express' Newest Service: BAC-MAPS - Strategy for Screening Very Large Genomes

We're always looking to the future at Amplicon Express, and after much hard work and planning, we are proud to introduce our newest product/service line: BAC-MAPS.

The BACMAPS (BAC Minimally Amplified Pooling Strategy) system enables researchers to use PCR for screening a BAC library constructed from an organism with a very large genome, typically larger than 15 Gb. Since the expense of picking millions of clones may be cost prohibitive, we have developed a system allowing screening of millions of clones with a few (48-384) PCR experiments and then following those results (a 'hit') to another plate and screening that second plate DNA by a another round of 96 PCR experiments. This second round PCR identifies a well that contains your BAC clone of interest as well as other BAC clones. The exact plate and well position containing your BAC clone of interest, together with 25-35 other BAC clones (or up to 80 in special cases) can be correctly identified in 192 PCR experiments. Following identification of the specific plate and well position, the specific well is thawed, mixed, and plated on selective media for picking of individual clones.

To learn more about this innovative and cost-effective technology, visit our BAC-MAPS page, and you can even request an online quote. To speak with a trained scientist about this new product line, please contact Robert Bogden

We've got more products coming later in the year, so keep your eyes on our news page!

Fri, 7 Sept 2006 08:00:00 EST:  Fall 2006 Developments

It has been quite a while since our last update, mostly because everyone here at Amplicon Express has been so busy. In every area, from BAC libraries to DNA sequencing, we've had a constant demand for services, and we are of course always more than happy to help out our clients.

With that in mind, one might wonder why Amplicon Express is in the near future going to be offering two new product/service lines. Although we can't really disclose any of the details of these product lines yet, there is no rule against creating a buzz and making the industry anticipate what our next venture might be. Keep your eyes on this news section and look for more information from us in the following months, and we'll release more information when it becomes available.

Besides good, steady business, we've added a number of premade BAC libraries to our growing list as well as making this list sortable. The instructions on the page will tell you how to sort the libraries.