WHEELING, Ill. — ACGT, Inc., a global leader in DNA sequencing and genomic analysis service contract industry since 1993 introduces a new Seafood ID™ service to meet the growing need for genetic identification of marine species in both the commercial seafood industry and the marine research sector. This type of service is commonly used to accurately verify the identity of seafood species in cases of product mislabeling, as well as exploitation and illegal trafficking. Additionally, this service can identify both poisonous marine species and fish that have been genetically modified.
ACGT, Inc. will provide Seafood ID™ services to a variety of sectors, from seafood suppliers to population biology researchers to governmental regulatory agencies responsible for the enforcement of local and global fishing statutes. Each of these groups participates in the protection of sustained seafood harvesting, one of our most precious natural resources.
At ACGT, Inc. species identification utilizes the sequence analysis of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (COX 1) gene. The COX 1 gene provides the greatest interspecies discriminatory power in a single gene. The utility of COX 1 gene has been recognized by the United States Food and Drug Administration, which has established this gene as a gold standard for seafood species identification.
Beginning with DNA extraction from the seafood sample, COX 1 gene is amplified through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed via DNA sequencing. The sequence thus obtained is profiled against vast public databases containing archived COX 1 sequences from thousands of marine species. Once a match is made, the percentage certainty of the identification is determined.
If COX 1 sequence information is not be sufficient for high certainty of identification, additional gene sequences will be analyzed in order to provide the level of discrimination required by the client. We can also employ a broad range of advanced forensic techniques in order to achieve discriminatory identification down to a level of closely related siblings.
Whether your project requires discrimination between Atlantic salmon and Lake trout, or if your research involves the study of the cod migration patterns, with Seafood ID™ our specialists will work with you every step of the way from experimental design through data acquisition and processing. Every project is performed to the highest quality standards regardless of size. Your project is our passion at Seafood ID™ from ACGT, Inc.!
About ACGT, Inc.
ACGT, Inc. was established in 1993 with the goal of providing high quality reliable DNA sequencing services to the research community in Chicagoland area. As the demand for DNA sequencing and genomics analysis increased, ACGT, Inc. expanded the range of services it offered, while consistently utilizing cutting edge technology to best serve its customers. At its current location in Wheeling, IL, ACGT, Inc. continues to deliver high quality scientific results along with excellent customer service and competitive pricing. Our service offerings now include molecular biology research and development, cloning, library construction, mutagenesis analysis, genotyping, gene expression analysis, pharmogenomics, genetic stability testing and our various DNA identification services. GLP-compliant FDA submission support is available for most projects.
We continue to work diligently to serve pharmaceutical and biotech companies as well as academia and governmental agencies for their exploratory and regulatory submission sequencing requirements. We take pride in providing our clients with customized protocols and services in order to meet their specific needs.
Additional information may be found at www.seafoodid.com and www.acgtinc.com
Source: ACGT, Inc.