Improved Genomic Target Selection Using IDT Oligos

IDT’s DECODED newsletter highlights developments in Foundation Medicine’s
NGS tumor assay using individually synthesized capture probes

CORALVILLE, IA – 26 September 2012 – Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), the world leader in oligonucleotide synthesis, provides scientists at Foundation Medicine with individually synthesized 5’-biotinylated Ultramer™ Oligonucle­otide capture probes which have proved superior to array-synthesized oligonucleotides for genomic target capture.

Dr Phil Stephens leads the team respon­sible for Foundation Medicine’s next generation sequencing (NGS) assay for comprehensive sequencing of clinical tumor specimens from FFPE samples and core needle biopsies. Samples are analysed for the entire coding sequence of 182 cancer-related genes plus 37 introns from 14 genes frequently rearranged in cancer. Analysis of a subset of these genes revealed that Ultramer Oligonucleotides provide a more uniform coverage than array-derived RNA baits, with reduced GC bias and are much more cost-effective on a per-reaction basis. The researchers are par­ticularly excited to have been able to reduce hybridization times using proprietary techniques, to 2.5 hr instead of the standard 24-72 hr, while maintaining high target coverage, and intend to continue evolving their technologies with advances in NGS.

Dr Mirna Jarosz, who previously led the team with Dr Stephens, commented, “We are in a sweet spot between large-scale whole genome sequencing and extremely targeted ‘hotspot’ sequencing, and this is where the IDT Ultramer Oligonucleotides are particularly useful to us.”  

You can read more about Foundation Medicine’s cutting edge research in the latest issue of the IDT quarterly newsletter, DECODED. For more information about the complete IDT product portfolio, and to sign up to receive DECODED, visit www.idtdna.com. For real-time news and updates, follow us on Twitter @idtdna.

About IDT

Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) is the largest supplier of custom nucleic acids in the United States, serving academic, government, and commercial researchers in biotechnology, clinical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical development. IDT's primary business is the manufacture of custom, synthetic DNA and RNA oligonucleotides. Today, IDT synthesizes and ships an average of 36,000 custom oligos per day to more than 86,000 customers worldwide. IDT manufacturing locations include facilities in Coralville, Iowa; San Diego, Calif.; and Leuven, Belgium. For more information visit www.idtdna.com.

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