The INMEGEN Polymorphism Sequencing and Identification Unit uses an infrastructure produced by Applied Biosystems (AB), one of the leading companies in the manufacture of high technology equipment applied to genomic sciences.

The Unit has high-throughput, model 3730XL, sequencing units with 96 capillaries, and a maximum capacity to sequence as many as 2,100,000 base pairs or to produce 92,000 genotypes per day.  This infrastructure has the capacity to study microsatellites, variable-length polymorphisms, loss of heterozygocity, and SNP analysis and validation, among other things. Furthermore, it is capable of performing real-time PCR analysis by using the 7900HT Fast equipment. The latter enables conduction of gene expression analysis experiments and genotyping based on the detection of fluorescent molecules. This technology is very useful in studies aimed at analyzing genotypes or the expression of a small group of genes in a large number of samples. For instance, to validate microarray results and when a specific polymorphism is associated to a certain disease.

This Unit’s sequencing platform simplifies and reduces the costs involved in both the detection process and discovery of new mutations or polymorphisms. Furthermore, it enables conduction of simultaneous genotyping of as many as 48 polymorphisms in a single reaction. The latter is very useful in studies that endeavor to link specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) groups to biologic phenomena such as variations in drug metabolism.