Carisa Townsend1, Kiranmai Durvasula1, Julie Baggs1, and Travis Butts1 Omega Bio-tek, Inc, Norcross, GA 30071 Introduction Recent advancements and studies have demonstrated the potential of cfDNA as a universal, non-invasive biomarker in cancer prognosis, diagnosis, and prenatal testing. cfDNA are found in low abundance and in a background of contaminating genomic DNA making it a […]
Carisa Townsend1, Kiranmai Durvasula1, and Travis Butts1 Omega Bio-tek, Inc, Norcross, GA 30071 Introduction With advances in genomics research, personalized medicine, and sequencing-based technologies, there is a necessity for purification of high-quality genomic DNA from large volumes of blood. The rapidly growing landscape of biorepositories that store large amounts of DNA from an enormous number
Introduction Traditionally, plasmid DNA purification hinges on alkaline lysis. In this method, bacteria, typically E. coli, containing the targeted plasmid DNA are harvested from overnight culture and resuspended in solution. A highly alkaline solution containing a detergent lyses the bacteria cells and denatures both the plasmid and genomic DNA. The addition of a highly acidic
RNA Depletion in Plasmid DNA Extractions with Mag-Bind® TotalPure NGS Read More »
The non-invasive nature of sample collection makes saliva an appealing sample type for patients and researchers alike. However, one hindrance to using saliva for genomic analysis is the appearance of low purity in eluates when quantified using absorbance ratios. Here, we discuss the nature of absorbance ratios and contextualize their meaning when analyzing extractions from
DNA from Saliva Performs Well Downstream, Despite Poor A260/A230 Ratios Read More »
In the era of precision medicine, biobanking has emerged as a crucial component in the realm of healthcare. A biobank is a specialized facility or repository that systematically collects, processes, stores, and manages biological samples and associated data for use in research and medical studies. The primary purpose of a biobank is to provide a
What are Biobanks? Read More »
Among the myriad techniques for nucleic acid extraction, magnetic beads stand out as an efficient and reliable tool to implement when automating extraction workflows. Magnetic bead-based extraction relies on the use of paramagnetic particles with coatings capable of specifically binding to nucleic acids. These beads only display magnetic properties when an external magnetic field is
A Guide to Magnetic Bead-Based Nucleic Acid Extraction Read More »
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a revolutionary tool in the realm of molecular diagnostics, offering a non-invasive window into the genetic information of various bodily tissues. As discussed in a previous post, the development of cfDNA technology is a large step forward in detecting and profiling circulating biomarkers to derive clinically relevant information. However,
The Challenges of cfDNA Purification Read More »
Introduction The consequences of the expansion of human development have been especially felt in California where human activity has eradicated several apex predators, like the California Grizzly and gray wolf. Unlike these predators, the puma, also called the mountain lion or cougar, has continued to populate the state, though their population is threatened by the continued
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a molecular biology technique used to amplify and replicate specific segments of DNA. Over time, PCR technology has evolved, giving rise to various methodologies, each tailored to specific needs. In this blog post, we will explore the different types of PCR and their applications. Standard PCR Conventional PCR enables the
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a cutting-edge technology used to sequence nucleotides in a DNA or RNA molecule. Unlike Sanger Sequencing, which can sequence only one DNA fragment at a time, NGS allows researchers to sequence multiple DNA fragments in parallel in a single run. This high-throughput approach revolutionizes our ability to decode complex genomes efficiently
