Chicken, Porcine, Rhesus Macaque and Zebrafish Arrays
January 16, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent has released updates to their gene expression microarrays for four model organisms: Chicken, Pig, Rhesus macaque and Zebrafish. To find out more information about these products, please follow this link to the Open Genomics website: http://www.opengenomics.com/Products/Application/Gene_Expression_Profiling.
If you require more information, please Contact Me
Next Generation Sequencing Meeting
January 13, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Emily Le Proust is the person who directs Agilent’s research into the SureSelect DNA sequence capture product line and has been responsible for overseeing the development of the technology. At short notice, I have arranged for her to present at a mini-symposium on next generation sequencing that I am organizing in Copenhagen on Monday 18th January. I just wanted to make sure you are aware of this opportunity and would like to invite you along. Emily knows as much about sequence capture as anyone, so this is a great chance to hear her speak and ask questions. Attendance will be free and there will be drinks and refreshments.
Please check out this PDF file to look at the agenda: AGENDA_NGS
Launch of AffinityScript 1-Step RT-PCR Kit
January 7, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
I wanted to make you aware of the launch of the AffinityScript One-Step RT-PCR Kit (Cat # 600188). The AffinityScript One-Step RT-PCR Kit is a new high performance system for convenient, high-throughput RT-PCR in a one-step reaction.
Key benefits of the kit include:
- AffinityScript One-Step RT-PCR Kit is ideal for rapid, easy one-step set-up for RT-PCR. The simple format makes preparing multiple or high-throughput reactions fast, eliminating the potential for contamination.
- AffinityScript combined with Herculase II Fusion DNA polymerase, delivers superior yields with equivalent fidelity to Pfu DNA polymerase (6X higher fidelity than Taq), but shorter cycling time.
- Amplify multiple targets in one tube at the same time.
- Overcome secondary structure in difficult and GC-rich targets
- Perform the RT step at a temperature of your choosing
The AffinityScript One-Step RT-PCR Kit provides high product yields and fidelity for applications such as cloning, gene detection, and quantification. The kit also consists of AffinityScript RT and Herculase II Fusion DNA polymerase enabling multi-temperature RT (with higher activity than both SuperScript II and III at all temperatures) with a robust amplification step to generate higher yields of cDNA with amplicons ranging from <500 bp to 9.5 kb.
Learn more from the attached PDF file.
AffinitScript One-Step RT-PCR Kit Data Sheet_5990-5213EN
Rice CGH Array released
December 20, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent has released a new model organism CGH array. The SurePrint G3 Rice CGH Microarray is now available for ordering. If you are interested to learn more, please contact me via the contact page.
Save 50% on Stratagene qPCR Reagents
December 15, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
For a limited time, when you purchase 1 Brilliant or Brilliant II qPCR Kit and Master Mixes at a regular price, enjoy an incredible offer:
Take 50% discount on up to 4 related products of your choice!
• Absolutely RNA Isolation Kits
• Reverse Transcriptase enzymes (AffinityScript)
• qPCR controls (Inhibitor Alert, Reference Standard)
• qPCR disposables (96 wells qPCR plates)
Learn more and benefit from this offer
Higher Density CH3 and ChIP Arrays
December 11, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent has launched SurePrint G3 custom ChIP / CH3 microarrays. These microarrays will be available in four formats: 1x1M, 2x400K, 4x180K, and 8x60K, and provide four times the density and coverage capabilities as compared to the SurePrint HD formats. For users this presents a more convenient and cheaper format for conducting ChIP / methylation studies, compared to Agilent’s previous version of this product.
If you are interested, please get in touch with me through the contact form.
MicroRNA Analyisis of Archival FFPE
November 20, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Link to a new Agilent application note describing miRNA analysis of FFPE samples: Link to abstract and PDF
SureSelect paper
November 17, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
A paper demonstrating the use of Agilent’s SureSelect Target Enrichment System in the study of healthy aging, published in the journal Genome Biology. In the SureSelect study the authors targeted approximately 3.6 Mb of genomic loci putatively associated with aging. The paper can be downloaded for free at the following web page http://genomebiology.com/content/pdf/gb-2009-10-10-r116.pdf .
Agilent Automation
November 17, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
I put this page on here simply because not many researchers know that Agilent has it’s own automation division (liquid handling and microplate handling) . It used to be called Velocity 11, but is now called Agilent Automation Solutions. They have excellent products, from simple microplate sealers and centrifuges, up to complex integrated systems.
Agilent can explain it better than I can – you can go to the Agilent website to learn more: Agilent Automation Solutions
YouTube has a couple of videos that demonstrate some of the instrument features too. The second shows the Bravo, which is a very fast and versatile liquid handling worksation:
Amazing value customized qPCR assays
November 16, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
IDT now provides gold-standard performance 5’ nuclease gene expression assays as PrimeTime qPCR Assays. Researchers can use a free online qPCR assay design tool for complete customization. Every assay undergoes 100% QC by mass spectrometry with the QC data available free of charge to all customers.
The prices for PrimeTime qPCR assays is very attractive. For example:
100 rxns is just DKK 409 / SEK 563
500 rxns is just DKK 670 / SEK 922
2500 rxns is just DKK 1972 / SeK 2715
To learn more, please visit the PrimeTime page on IDT’s website.
Videos explaining MIQE guidelines
November 11, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Browsing through You Tube just now, I found these videos illustrating the concepts of the MIQE (Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments) guidelines. These focus on how to apply the guidelines to design a solid experimental approach for RT-qPCR. There are four videos in total. The sound is a bit “fuzzy,” but the content is a fairly nice overview of MIQE:
Agilent SureSelect Promotions
November 9, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent are still giving introductory discounts on some of their smaller kit sizes for SureSelect Target Enrichments products. Discounts are available for the custom SureSelect kits and the SureSelect Human All Exon Kits.
Read more about the promotion at this link: http://www.opengenomics.com/Promotions/SureSelect_Next_Gen_Sequencing
Agilent eSeminars
November 4, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
A useful link at the Agilent website, providing links to Agilent online seminars. Go to this link.
The next eSeminar will be on Automating Genomics Applications. There will be a presenation about the automation of several commercial sample preparation and purification assays for RNA, DNA and PCR using the Agilent Bravo Workstation with integrated devices for plate stacking, centrifugation and sealing.
How to write a successful application for Framework 7 Programme
October 28, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent is offering a FREE online training course to help you, as a researcher to:
1. develop your skills to successfully submit Framework 7 programme proposals
2. to avoid the myths and pitfalls when submitting Framework 7 programme proposals
This looks extremely useful, if you are in the process of writing a F7P grant proposal.
Get more information here
Agilent Instrument Voucher Program
October 23, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
This looks like being one of the best promotions Agilent has released for some time. If you spend money on reagents, e.g. qPCR reagents, BioAnalyzer chips, microarrays, you can get a voucher towards an instrument you would like to purchase. Vouchers are valid until December 31st 2010.
Instruments valid for vouchers are MX3000P and MX3005P qPCR instruments, the 2100 Bioanalyzer and the high-resolution microarray scanner.
It is possible to get vouchers up to the value of DKK 150.000 / SEK 219.000.
Give me more information on Agilent’s Instrument Voucher program
Human DNA Methylation Array Launched by Agilent
October 22, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
The Human DNA Methylation Array is now available from Agilent. An update of the existing product, this array offers a more comprehensive set of DNA methylation regions. Features of note are:
• Expanded content: Includes >5000 “UMR regions” and expanded CpG Island content for increased coverage of methylated DNA regions
• Updated probe content: Offers more comprehensive coverage than previous CpG Island array design
More on the design:
The Agilent Human DNA Methylation Microarray is designed to interrogate known CpG islands and two additional groups of methylated DNA. The array is specifically designed for analysis of methylated DNA derived from affinity-based isolation methods such as methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MDIP). The array is fully compatible with Agilent’s Genomics Workbench DNA Methylation module for analysis.
The array includes probes to study known CpG Islands and also includes additional probe content spanning 85 nucleotides proximal to each CpG island. This expanded coverage addresses recent findings suggesting that regions directly adjacent to canonical CpG islands can also exhibit differential methylation1. Coverage was also extended to tile ~5000 additional intervals identified as Undermethylated Regions (UMRs) in a recent joint publication between the laboratories of Howard Cedar and Agilent Technologies. This additional content is provided for a more comprehensive analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation
MicroRNA Spike-In Kit
October 22, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
For users of Agilent’s microRNA arrays, or those planning to use their arrays, the use of the miRNA spike-in kit will offer controls for both the labeling and hybridization steps of the miRNA assay.
You can get more information at this link to Agilent’s OpenGenomics website: http://www.opengenomics.com/Products/Application/miRNA
CoolRack PCR 96/384 – Stable Sample Set-Up
October 22, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Rapid thermo-conductive equilibration
Every well at identical temperature
Ideal for ice cooling and warm incubation
Keeps plates and tubes dry and stable
Autoclavable, RNAse Away and 5% bleach resistant
Take me to the BioCision website
Agilent Release SureSelect Human All Exon Kit
October 19, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent’s SureSelect target enrichment system has been extended to target all human exons, a region totaling approximately 38 Mb. The SureSelect Human All Exon kit design covers 1.22% of human genomic regions corresponding to the NCBI Consensus CDS database (CCDS), including > 700 human miRNAs from the Sanger v13 database, and > 300 additional human non-coding RNAs such as snoRNAs and scaRNAs. This design covers >37 Mb of the human genome and is easily processed in a single tube.
Take me to the Agilent website to learn more
CoolCell -1 °C/min cell freezing, without alcohol
October 16, 2009 by Peter · Leave a Comment
BioCision have recently launched a new product, CoolCell, a cooling device that achieves controlled cell freezing of biomedical samples at -1 degree Celsius per minute without the use of alcohol. CoolCell is the latest release in BioCision’s new line of portable controlled-rate freezing products.
CoolCell’s Solid State Core and insulated design precisely control heat removal during freezing to ensure repeatable, constant rate cooling down to cryogenic storage temperature. Unlike current cell freezing methods, CoolCell works without alcohol and retains a constant cooling rate, resulting in a reliable and consistent -1 degree Celsius per minute freeze rate every time. CoolCell can be used again minutes after a freeze cycle, eliminating hours of waiting time between cycles. CoolCell requires no maintenance and holds up to 12 cryotube samples.
Take me to the BioCision website to learn more.
