Canada
September 18, 2006
Farmscape
(Episode 2249)
Source:
http://www.farmscape.ca/f1Scripts.aspx
Dr. Greg Penner,
President and CEO,
NeoVentures Biotechnology
Inc.
"A Guelph, Ontario based
biotechnology company is confident a new technique it has
developed has the potential to quickly identify grain varieties
as well as specific traits within those varieties.
"In an effort to eliminate the need for the visual
identification of wheat varieties at the elevator and
regulations that prohibit the registration of varieties that
look like Canada Western Red Spring or Canada Western Amber
Durum, several organizations are seeking alternative
identification methods.
"One project is being spearheaded
by the Canadian Wheat Board in collaboration with NeoVentures
Biotechnology with funding provided by the Manitoba Rural
Adaptation Council.
"NeoVentures President and CEO Dr. Greg Penner explains his
company's approach uses a combination of two technologies.
|
Dr. Greg Penner
NeoVentures
Biotechnology Inc.
" One is based on aptimers which are nucleic acids,
DNA or RNA fragments.
"We think of DNA as what's in plants and animals and
all of that.
"DNA is actually capable of doing things and what
we're doing is we're using lab based techniques to
identify DNA fragments that are capable of binding
to specific molecules within wheat varieties.
"By having them bind specifically we are then
combining that with another technology which allows
us rapid signal amplification so that we can
quantitatively determine the amount of target
molecules present in any variety and, if the
varieties differ for the amount of any given target
molecule present we can tell them apart.
"Ultimately what we're looking at is a five to ten
minute detection at primary point of grain
delivery." |
"Dr. Penner notes the technique
promises not only the ability to quickly identify grain
varieties with a minimum of operator involvement but also to
determine specifications within those varieties.
For Farmscape.ca, I'm Bruce
Cochrane."
*Farmscape is a presentation of
Sask Pork and
Manitoba Pork Council |
