In response to user needs, CIGENE has acquired a high-throughput genotyping platform from Affymetrix. At our facility we have two state-of-the-art four color Affymetrix GeneChip Scanners 3000 (7G-Plus; each with 48-position autoloaders), three FS450 Fluidics Stations, two GCOS and one GTGS workstations, dedicated pre- and post-PCR laboratories, and the full suite of software and hardware (coupled to our existing robotics and LIMS systems) required for most Affymetrix GeneChip applications.
Affymetrix product lines support both DNA analysis (whole genome, targeted genotyping, and sequence analysis) and expression analysis (quantitation, regulation); a detailed list of Affymetrix application areas is available at www.affymetrix.com. However as a FUGE core facility CIGENEs primary responsibility is for SNP genotyping; whole genome mapping, and targeted genotyping.
At CIGENE we have experience running human GeneChip Mapping Arrays (available with 100K, 250K, and 500K SNPs). With the largest of these well-validated, high-coverage arrays it is possible to process 96 samples per day and generate 48 million genotypes, in a process requiring no more than 500ng DNA per sample. This is a very competitive technology for conducting large-scale linkage and association studies, and analyzing copy number variation. Affymetrix expect to release a 1000K SNP array in the first quarter of 2007.
