Jackson Laboratory to implement HighRes automated process for genotyping of laboratory mice

Aug 17 2010

A highly accurate, automated process for managing the genotyping of laboratory mice is headed to Bar Harbor, Maine. In response to the increased demand for using transgenic mouse models and the requisite genotyping of such animals, The Jackson Laboratory will be implementing a HighRes Biosolutions automated process to improve the maintenance of their extensive and diverse mouse colonies.

“After managing a mouse colony as a graduate student, I can appreciate the need for an institute like The Jackson Laboratory to reduce routine, manual tasks through automation. Our HighRes systems are incredibly useful for labs looking to reorganize and reproducibly store and access large numbers of biological samples.”

The Jackson Laboratory has 38 research groups studying the genetic basis of human diseases and normal mammalian development and aging. The Laboratory also works with over 19,000 laboratories worldwide, providing them with more than 5,500 different strains of mice for the study of diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, immune system diseases, ALS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, hearing loss, blindness and Down syndrome.

In order to maintain such a diverse collection of mouse strains, the Laboratory must accurately genotype individual mice for specific genetic markers and mutations. The implementation of the new HighRes automated process will immediately reduce time-consuming pipetting tasks currently executed by a highly trained staff, freeing the technicians to focus on more challenging tasks. Along with the rapid barcoding and reformatting of samples, the HighRes solution will streamline lab procedures and reduce the liability of human error.

According to Kevin Johnson, Jackson Associate Director of Scientific Services, "The HighRes process will robotically set up the daily genotyping PCR reactions, with our in-house information management system automatically feeding in the requests and genotyping protocol details. This process will significantly increase speed, accuracy and efficiency over current manual pipetting practices."

Most important, Johnson notes, "this will positively impact our own mouse colony management process, and enhance our distribution of genetically modified and spontaneous mutant strains to the worldwide scientific community."

"We are excited to work with a customer like The Jackson Laboratory," states Dr. Chris Pacheco, Director of Life Science Technologies at HighRes. "After managing a mouse colony as a graduate student, I can appreciate the need for an institute like The Jackson Laboratory to reduce routine, manual tasks through automation. Our HighRes systems are incredibly useful for labs looking to reorganize and reproducibly store and access large numbers of biological samples." Dr. Pacheco adds, "HighRes looks forward to working with The Jackson Laboratory to meet all of their mouse colony management needs."

SOURCE The Jackson Laboratory