Nature Methods Publishes Breakthrough by Chromatin Co-Founder for Locating Centromeres.CHICAGO -- Method Developed by Daphne daphne, in botany daphne, common name for, and genus name of, certain low deciduous or evergreen shrubs native to Eurasia. In the United States several naturalized species are cultivated for their handsome foliage and fragrant flowers, e.g., D. Preuss at the University of Chicago and Licensed to Chromatin chromatin: see chromosome. Enables Rapid, Broad Application of Technology Chromatin, Inc. announced today that the current issue of Nature Methods published an article describing findings by Daphne Preuss, Ph.D., the company's co-founder, to extend technology for rapidly identifying centromeres in a wide range of plants. "These findings are significant because it demonstrates that the methods originally used to identify the centromere centromere Structure in a chromosome that holds together the two chromatids. It is the point of attachment to the structure that pulls the chromatids to opposite ends of the cell during cell division (see mitosis). region in Arabidopsis are fast and flexible," said Anthony J. Cavalieri, Ph.D. Cavalieri, formerly vice president in charge of trait and technology development at Pioneer Hi-Bred Pioneer Hi-Bred is one of the largest U.S. companies which produces hybrid seeds for agriculture. History In 1926, farm journal editor and future U.S. Vice President Henry A. Wallace, along with a group of Des Moines, Iowa businessmen, started the "Hi-Bred Corn Company". , a DuPont company, now serves on Chromatin's Board of Directors. "This news takes the technology beyond the realm of academia and has big implications for commercial applications. What once took years can now be accomplished in a small fraction of the time." The Nature Methods article describes a whole-genome fractionation fractionation /frac·tion·a·tion/ (frak?shun-a´shun) 1. in radiology, division of the total dose of radiation into small doses administered at intervals. 2. technique that can identify centromeric cen·tro·mere n. The most condensed and constricted region of a chromosome, to which the spindle fiber is attached during mitosis. cen DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. in genomes, and suggests these techniques could be extended to crops and mammals. This technology is licensed exclusively to Chromatin by the University of Chicago and significantly augments the company's portfolio of technologies for the assembly and development of mini-chromosomes. The Nature Methods article, jointly authored by Song Luo, Ph.D., Anne E Hall, Ph.D., Sarah E Hall, Ph.D., and Preuss appears in the Oct., 2004 issue. About Chromatin Chromatin, Inc., develops and markets novel proprietary technology that enables entire chromosomes to be designed and incorporated into plant cells. These engineered chromosomes make it possible for the first time to simultaneously introduce multiple genes into a plant cell while maintaining precise control of gene expression. Chromatin is employing these new genetic tools to design and market products that confer commercially valuable traits in plants, including improved nutritional and health characteristics, and can be used for industrial, agricultural and pharmaceutical product development. For more information go to www.chromatininc.com. |
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