02 Sept 2004
Defence Lab Welcomes Nobel Prize Winner To Top Scientific
Conference
THE CREATOR of a revolutionary technology which has made possible DNA
fingerprinting, cloning and the human genome project will be the key
speaker at a top scientific conference in September.
Kary Mullis received the Nobel prize in 1993 for inventing the Polymerase
Chain Reaction (PCR) process - a tool which amplifies DNA to use it
for other applications. Dr Mullis' PCR has singularly changed the face
of molecular biology as well as unlocking the secrets of genetics. The
process has had a major impact on forensics and the medical world as
well as enabling huge leaps in science such as enabling the cloning
of Dolly the sheep and the sequencing of the human genome.
At the Government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl),
scientists have harnessed the technology and created a novel portable
machine for helping to detect a range of bio-warfare agents. Dstl is
also developing other applications, for example using its PCR-based
instrumentation to speed up the diagnosis of sexually transmitted conditions
such as the infertility causing condition Chlamydia so that patients
can have same-day results for their tests.
Dstl has organised the 2nd international conference on real-time PCR
applications in Bournemouth from September 14 to 16 to bring key developers
of the technology together to share knowledge but also to explore PCR's
future. Speakers and delegates will arrive from across the globe including
Professor Carl Wittwer of the University of Utah. He created the first
real-time PCR instrument called a Light Cycler which allows researchers
to accurately quantify how much original DNA is found in a given sample.
This can be used to assess the level of infection or in cancer can be
used to tell you if certain genes are over-expressed.
Dr Mullis said: " Most people in molecular biology today are not
old enough to remember pre-PCR. But try to do your job without it, and
you will see what a difference that simple little technique has made.
What I was trying to do was increase the demand for oligonucleotides,*
which my laboratory before automation, had made by hand. It worked."
Dstl Chief Executive Martin Earwicker added: "Dstl appreciates
the importance of the PCR process in its own military applications and
spin-out technologies. We believe gathering these experts together provides
a unique opportunity to celebrate PCR's achievements and look to future
developments."
-ends-
Further Details:
Conference programme is attached. If you would like to attend please
contact Sue Ellison on 01980 613933 or Shirley Boards on 07766 134768
by Thursday the 9th of September.
Examples of PCR machines will be displayed at the conference
Notes to Editors
PCR and Dstl
DNA is a polymer made up of two spiral chains with each chain
made up of a string of four chemical building blocks known as nucleotides.
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR), is an enzymatic process that requires
heating and cooling of samples to generate millions of copies of segments
of DNA which can be used for diagnosis. It is a widely used process,
which is normally laboratory based and usually requires a separate heating
block to heat and cool test tube reactions. Dstl has negated the need
for the heating block by creating a novel heating system using custom
built test tubes made from a specific plastic called an Electrically
Conducting Polymer (ECP) which heat and cool individually. This not
only speeds up the process but creates a lighter portable instrument,
able to carry out several assays simultaneously and also allows a complete
DNA amplification process to be carried out automatically. This ‘sample
in, result out’ approach gives great potential in the fields of
medicine, research and GM food testing.
Dstl
Dstl (the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) is the
centre of scientific excellence for the Ministry of Defence, housing
one of the largest groups of scientists and engineers in public service
in the country. Its 3,000 strong workforce includes some of the nation’s
most talented and creative scientists with the brief to ensure that
the UK Armed Forces and Government are supported in house by world class
scientific advice. Dstl delivers defence research, specialist technical
services and the ability to track global technological developments.
Its capabilities compare with the best in the world, supporting procurement
decisions, defence policy making and operations. For more information
visit www.dstl.gov.uk
Roche Applied Science
With 50 years of expertise in biochemicals, Roche Applied Science
is committed to producing the finest quality products for biological
research. Included in our products is our MagNA Pure instruments for
high quality nucleic acid isolation, PCR technology, the LightCycler
for QPCR and the LightTyper for SNP detection. In addition to specific
system reagents we also provide an extensive array of Everyday Research.
Essentials - individual reagents for customized research. Roche hold
a number of licences that Dstl and other companies use. www.rocheuk.com
Eurogentec
Eurogentec was founded in 1985 as a spin-off of the University of Liège
(Belgium). Its mission is to design and deliver reliable and innovative
services and products for the Life-Science community. As a leading supplier
for genomic and proteomic research, Eurogentec is able to offer its
customers integrated solutions, whether they use DNA, antibodies, peptides
or proteins as research tools. Eurogentec also offers research and development
services for the biopharmaceutical industry.
www.eurogentec.com
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