NEW YORK, May 8 - Lynx Therapeutics will collaborate with animal genomics company AniGenics to identify commercially valuable genetic markers in certain livestock, the companies said Tuesday.
Using Lynx's Megasort and Megatype technologies, the two companies will profile gene expression and identify SNPs in cattle and other animals for use in marker-assisted breeding, a technique for selecting certain animals to breed based on their genotype.
Chicago-based AniGenics will provide the samples to Lynx, which will perform the gene profile analysis using Megasort, and the SNP analysis using Megatype, according to a statement. The two technologies spring from the company's proprietary micro-bead cloning technique for analyzing gene transcripts.
Under the terms of the deal, AniGenics will pay Lynx for the research services, and allow Lynx, based in Hayward, Calif., to receive royalties from products and services sold by AniGenics. Lynx also has the right to commercialize products and services with applications in human health, and must pay AniGenics royalties on any products or services that result. Other financial details were not disclosed.
"Advances in genomics research could provide a tremendous advantage to the livestock and poultry industries," AniGenics CEO Steven Niemi said in a statement. "We believe Lynx's technologies will give us the edge needed to realize fully the future potential of marker-assisted breeding and DNA-based meat identification."
In March, AniGenics signed on Genometrix to search cattle samples for SNPs associated with meat quality, disease resistance, and animal growth rate. Other companies in the animal genomics sector include Davis, Calif.-based Celera AgGen and GenomicFX, based in Austin, Texas.