If you're a regular follower of DNA Genotek, you likely know that we are active participants in a variety of DNA collection events to support disease research. You might be familiar with our participation in Spit for the Cure breast cancer events or with our on-site collection at the National Walk for Epilepsy. But I'll bet you never imagined this type of DNA collection event would go to the dogs.
But this is exactly what happened. A few weeks ago, one of our customers approached us about on-site canine DNA collection at The Ninth Annual American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championship Dog Show. Dr. Nick Duesbery, of the Van Andel Research Institute, saw an opportunity to very quickly ramp up their canine DNA collection effort at the largest national dog show in the U.S. with the Oragene•ANIMAL DNA collection kit . The show presented them with an opportunity to collect DNA from a wide variety of dog breeds in a very short period of time. It was an opportunity not to be missed.
Dr. Duesbery is working on a project to study cancer susceptibility in dogs. Because many of the diseases that affect man's best friend also affect us, understanding canine cancer could have a profound affect on human cancer research. Compared with other animal models, the dog may also prove invaluable in the development of cancer drugs, because dogs develop cancers that share many characteristics with human malignancies.
Armed with boxes of Oragene•ANIMAL kits at a booth in the exhibit hall, Dr. Duesbery, the principal investigator of the study, and his research team set to work. They visited owners at grooming tables, in their booth, and even on the show floor. Keep in mind that these are show dogs and like humans, they get the jitters before big events. Despite pre-event nerves, owners were very receptive to collecting DNA from their dogs.
The result - 750 samples were collected. This is the largest number of canine saliva/DNA samples any canine research group has ever collected at an event.
So what's next? Well, Dr. Duesbery and his team hope to collect 10,000 canine samples in the next 3 years. He will do this by sending kits directly to the home of dog owners and with more event based collections like this one.
Dr. Duesbery commented: "The Oragene•ANIMAL kits provide a kinder and gentler sampling protocol for dogs. Pet owners can easily collect the DNA themselves at home or at dog shows. We were able to collect samples throughout the American Kennel Club/Eukanuba national event without creating any unnecessary anxiety for the animals. This is critical for successful canine DNA collection."
I have to admit, coming up with DNA Genotek's "Top 10 list for 2009" was more difficult than I imagined it would be. There are so many great things that happened in the past year - in our company, with our customers, and in the field of genetics - but I think I've got it narrowed down to those that are most significant.
DNA Genotek's "Top 10 list for 2009" is based on my own experience and things that I observed or learned over the past year. The list is by no means comprehensive, but I assure you that these are the 10 things I'll remember most from 2009.
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In 2009, I was amazed at the rate of advancement our customers achieved in genetic understanding and I'm excited about the impact these advancements could have on science, medicine and health. Whether it was research into the genetic link for autism, ADHD, diabetes, cancer or tropical diseases, each provides another piece of the puzzle and may one day unlock the mysteries of these and other diseases.
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We expanded our product portfolio in 2009 and launched our first DNA collection product designed for non-humans.
Oragene•ANIMAL was officially introduced to the market in June and very quickly had a major impact. The product has been used in international studies like the one designed to find the genetic cause of
Chiari-like Malformation and syringomyelia in dogs and many others. We're already seeing
published research that demonstrates its' effectiveness compared to blood and buccal swabs. This is an exciting start for a new product in a new market.
- In 2009, we saw some great new customers join the DNA Genotek family. The Oragene•DNA product was selected by Prometheus as the sample collection kit for MyCeliacID, the first saliva-based genetic test dedicated to celiac disease. We continued to increase the number of customers we have and to grow our product usage within existing customer accounts. 23andMe, for example, added a number of new traits and health conditions to their service (which uses our product for DNA collection). This is, by far, the best testament to our product quality, reliability and ease of use.
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I was astounded by the rate of growth of Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) in 2009. GWAS have contributed substantially to our understanding of disease and an increasing number of our customers are conducting GWAS. I look forward to the day that new and improved treatments and preventative measures are available based on the insights from these complex studies.
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In December of 2009, DNA Genotek was selected as a successful biotechnology company to be featured at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Even though the Olympics are still more than a month away, I feel like we've already won our gold medal.
- The creation of the DNA Genotek Helping Hands Program was another highlight for me. We launched new Spit for the Cure events in association with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, participated with the Columbia University Family Studies in Epilepsy to collect DNA samples on site at the National Walk for Epilepsy, and donated compression bandages to treat podoconiosis in Ethiopia. The goal of the program is to help accelerate research and advance the fight against disease across the globe. The program is young, but I'm optimistic about its potential for success and its ability to help our customers improve health worldwide.
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We saw phenomenal progression in genome mapping in 2009. The genomes of the domestic horse, giant panda, cow, turkey, corn, the Irish potato famine pathogen, and the date palm were all mapped along with many others. What this will mean is uncertain but the knowledge is sure to contribute to scientific advancement. For example, the successful sequencing of the cow genome could lead to treatments for malaria and the development of a 'super cow' that thrives in harsh conditions. Genetic information about the date palm is extremely valuable to researchers who are working to improve fruit yield and quality and to better understand susceptibility and resistance to disease. I can't wait to see what's next.
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We created the
DNA Genotek Partner Program late in 2009 and formalized the great relationships we have with so many institutions and partner companies. I look forward to even more growth in this area in 2010.
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Finally, I'm particularly proud of our employees and their attention to customers' needs. I watch them pull off small miracles on a daily basis - from driving through raging snowstorms to make sure a product gets to a customer on time, to impeccable attention to detail in our product customizations, to outstanding focus on quality. They do this because they believe in the work our customers are doing. They believe that one day, our products will ship to someone who will find a treatment or cure for a disease that impacts them, their family, or someone they know. Now that's motivation.
No article that includes a top 10 list for the year would be complete without mentioning New Year's resolutions. I considered all the usual New Year's resolutions both personally and for DNA Genotek. I even googled the top 10 most popular New Year's resolutions. None of them seemed appropriate. It really comes down to this -- for 2010, I resolve that we will increase our focus on product innovation so our customers continue to have the tools they need to make history by finding genetic links that can lead to a cure or new treatment for disease. Human genetics is incredibly complex, but equipped with the right tools, geneticists have a unique opportunity for unprecedented exploration into genetic links to disease. If we can do that, 2010 will be very successful for DNA Genotek.
I hope you enjoy the first of what I hope will become an annual Top 10 list. If you have ideas for our 2010 list or think I missed something that should be on our 2009 list, leave a comment and let me know.
People often think of genetic research and testing as a solely human pursuit but scientists and clinicians often study animals and plants as well. Genetic researchers and clinicians study models of animal disease in animals as well as human diseases with animal models.
One such researcher is Dr. Katherine Mitsouras, PhD, of the Western University of Health Sciences. She recently published new research on the use of saliva as an alternative source of high yield canine DNA for genotyping studies. Animal researchers and pet owners alike will be pleased with the results of this research.
According to Dr. Mitsouras: "The domestic dog presents an attractive model system for the study of the genetic basis of disease. The development of resources such as the canine genome sequence and SNP genotyping platforms has allowed for the implementation of canine genetic studies. Successful implementation of such studies depends not only on the quality of individual DNA samples, but also on the number of samples obtained."
The objective of the study was to compare the yield and quality of DNA obtained from matched buccal swab, blood and Oragene•ANIMAL saliva samples. The performance of these samples was assessed for use on PCR-based downstream applications.
The study determined that DNA yields from canine saliva are higher than those from blood or buccal swabs (see Table 1 for details). The quality of DNA extracted from saliva is sufficient for successful amplification of a 1.1-kb fragment and for accurate SNP genotyping by PCR-RFLP. Therefore, saliva presents a non-invasive alternative source of high quantities of canine genomic DNA suitable for genotyping studies.
For researchers, veterinarians and pet owners, this is exciting news. In short, using Oragene•ANIMAL improves animal well-being and facilitates ethical approvals with painless and non-invasive sample collection.
saliva-based collection methods are easy-to-use and reliable for use by pet owners or trained professionals in any collection environment: in the clinic, in the field or at home
researchers can increase the number of samples collected and reduce collection cost and complexity by sending kits via the mail - no special shipping or handling is required
study compliance can be increased and costly and inconvenient clinic visits required for a blood draw can be eliminated
Everyone at DNA Genotek congratulates Dr. Mitsouras on the publication of this research. A full case study on this research is also available.