Automated Purification of Blood or Bacterial Genomic DNA--MacConnell Research Corporation, 11339 Sorrento Valley Road, B, San Diego, CA 92121-1303; (619) 452-2603
Dr. William P. MacConnell, Principal Investigator
Dr. William P. MacConnell, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-98ER82612
Amount: $75,000

The rapid and reproducible isolation of genomic DNA from blood, bacteria, and viruses is a necessary starting point for molecular diagnosis of infection, genetic disease, inherited traits, and identity determination. The process needs to be automated by means affordable to clinical or research labs. Phase I will develop a prototype of a fully automatic high-throughput blood or bacteria genomic DNA isolation instrument. This instrument uses a derivative of electrophoretic separation technology that was developed for automated purification of plasmid DNA. Phase I will optimize the electrophoretic purification technique, determine the full range of sample volumes and cell numbers that can be processed, test if the purified genomic DNA is active in a variety of molecular biology procedures, test for cross-contamination, construct a prototype instrument that will automate the overall method, and prepare an accurate set of product specifications.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The products developed in this work will be commercialized in the form of instrumentation and supplies sold for genomic DNA isolation. The products can be marketed to 20,000 laboratories in the U.S. performing molecular biology research where there is a growing need for automation.