Latest Posters

The lack of reference materials (RMs) for most genetic tests causes difficulties in validating and developing new assays, and results in tests being run without proper quality controls. EuroGentest and the EU-funded network for Medical Genetics, is addressing this issue by defining the present and future needs for RMs, setting priorities for and supporting the development of new RMs and building an enduring network involving all stakeholders in RM development.

In a worldwide first proscpective phamacogenetic study preliminary results show reduction of adverse drug reactions and hospitilisation stays for geriatric patients after pharmacogenetic testing and medication interaction analysis to fit the medicine to the patient.

Microfabricated biochips are developed to continuously monitor cell population dynamics in a non-invasive manner. In the presented work we describe the novel combination of contact-less dielectric microsensors and microfluidics to promote biofilm formation for quantitative cell analysis.

Cell chips are developed to continuously monitor mammalian cell population dynamics in a non-invasive manner. In the presented work we describe the design, fabrication and characterization of a lab-on-a-chip for quantitative cell analysis.

We demonstrate that DNA methylation patterns can serve as characteristic markers to distinguish different cell types. We have identified panels of methylation markers that are specific to mesenchymal stem cells or various differentiated cell types in the mesenchymal lineage. This method of cell type identification has a number of advantages over conventional markers in that it is robust, is both qualitative and quantitative.

The reported incidence of Type II Diabetes Mellitus (TIIDM) in Oji-Cree Natives is the highest in the world. This poster presents the impact of the PCK1 gene on TIIDM incidence in Oji-Cree Natives with particular attention to the role of SNP 232C→G on the transcription rate of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinease (PPCK1).

Recently, TaqMan® assays have been developed for detection of genetic variation at gene level using primers and probes designed for genomic DNA sequences. The R package TaqGCN contains classes and methods that can be used for data reading and plotting, and for predicting gene copy number.

The EasyBeacons™ presented here are based on the novel technology Intercalating Nucleic Acid, INA®, linked to a fluorophore and a quencher. INA® is composed of normal DNA nucleotides and Intercalating Pseudo Nucleotides (IPNs). The fact that the EasyBeacons™ are mostly composed of normal DNA nucleotides means that in many respects EasyBeacons™ behave like DNA based probes, allowing use of standard buffers, primers and enzymes and hence reduces the optimisation efforts.

Sensitive and specific method real-time PCR was developed for diagnostics of certain plant viruses. Real-time PCR can be used for determination of different viruses as well as for differentiation between related strains of viruses. The method can also be used for detection of low concentrations of plant viruses in various samples such as environmental waters, growth substrates and seeds.

Using the CTC kit (CellSearch™), cells that attached to anti-EpCAM Moab were immunomagnetically separated and used for analysis of a selected pilot set of 32 genes by real time RT-PCR. This study shows the feasibility of multiple gene expression analysis on RNA isolated from only one tumor cell. Most importantly, expression analysis of several tumor-specific genes in blood samples containing only 2 tumor cells is already possible.