Fishing For Genetic Information With Tecan’s HS 4800(TM) Pro

The high throughput efficiency provided by Tecan’s HS 4800 Pro Hybridization Station is helping researchers at the Pacific Biological Station in British Columbia, Canada, to develop genomics technologies for the management of wild salmon stocks. Genetic technologies developed by the molecular genetics laboratory are already providing managers with real time information about the timing and distribution of salmon stocks moving through test fishing areas before fisheries are opened. Managers use this information for in-season stock-based management, concentrating fisheries where healthy, abundant stocks are present and implementing conservation strategies for those in need of protection. This same lab is now taking a giant leap forward, providing additional information on the condition of the fish and the likelihood that they will successfully making it to the spawning grounds.

Dr Kristina Miller is head of molecular genetics at the Pacific Biological Station and explained how the Tecan system has advanced the project: “Our aim is to develop tools to assess salmon condition that will allow us to predict physiological and behavioural response to the changing aquatic environment. One of the most important aspects of this work is minimising the technical variation between microarray slides and experiments, and the HS 4800 Pro gives us an exceptionally high consistency rate, as well as a high throughput capacity. The reliability of results is much better than the traditional manual approach and this, combined with the time and money saving aspects, makes the system a clear winner in terms of efficiency.”

To find out more on Tecan’s hybridization stations, visit www.tecan.com/hs_series

About Tecan

Tecan (www.tecan.com) is a leading global provider of laboratory instruments and solutions in biopharmaceuticals, forensics, and clinical diagnostics. The company specializes in the development, production and distribution of automation solutions for laboratories in the life sciences sector. With its subsidiary REMP (www.remp.com), Tecan is the market leader in automated laboratory storage and logistics systems. Its clients include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, university research departments and diagnostic laboratories. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has manufacturing, research and development sites in both North America and Europe and maintains a sales and service network in 52 countries. In 2008, Tecan generated sales of CHF 396 million (USD 366.7 million; EUR 250.7 million). Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (TK: TECN/Reuters: TECZn.S/Swiss security number: 1210019).