Functional Genomic Fingerprinting (FGF) is a rapid, easy-to-adapt, user-friendly and cost-effective technology that can have a momentous impact in plant biotechnology. The plant biotechnology industry includes a variety of agricultural applications, estimated to encompass a $50 billion market, including germ plasm characterization, taxonomic classification, and plant breeding.

Functional Genomic Fingerprinting revolutionizes plant-breeding

Genome Technologies LLC’s proprietary primers were developed based on computational analysis of the genome. They allow selective amplification of thousands of exons using PCR. The amplified exons are displayed by gel electrophoresis and/or sequenced.

FGF involves a comparative analysis approach. DNA specimens from normal control subjects and from test plants of interest are compared in order to identify the exons that differ between the test and control genomes.

FGF is an innovative tool that can be used to identify mutations in genes from two closely related plant species, or to reveal the presence of new genes. Thus FGF represents a novel molecular tool in plant breeding, especially with respect to detection of new and useful genes.

FGF has a unique advantage over competing technologies in that it selectively targets only the functional regions of plant genomes.

FGF can be used to identify the genes that code for particular traits, making it a valuable tool for the plant biotechnology industry.

FGF can identify new genes and new gene families and their relationships with useful traits through cross breeding. The identification of genes responsible for traits that affect crop yield and pathogen resistance have significant applications. Such valuable genes may be identified from wild cultivars or from un-related plant species.

Early adapters of this technology will benefit from a significant competitive advantage in the plant biotechnology industry.

Functional Genomic Fingerprinting easily characterizes germ plasms

There are numerous valuable applications of genetic/molecular characterization of germ plasms in agriculture.

FGF can be used to characterize germ plasms as well as to compare germ plasms, wild-type and other cultivars modified by breeding, genetic drift or genetic engineering.

FGF can be applied to identify the differences in the genetic profiles of germplasms, and thereby enable the alleles underlying unique traits, such as those that engender disease resistance or drought resistance, to be identified.

FGF can detect germplasm molecular markers associated with these traits.

Using plant breeding experiments based on FGF technology, quality seeds with desirable phenotypic/physiological characteristics can be generated in a short time and with relatively little effort.