Fields of Research

Plant & Animal Biotechnology

fluidigm fields of research

The advancement of genetic analysis technology – next generation sequencing in particular – has sparked discovery of thousands of genetic variations relevant to plants and animals. This knowledge must be statistically validated as linked to desirable or undesirable traits so that genetic markers may be employed in all aspects of agribusiness from breeding programs to quality control.

A new age of genotyping efficiency and standardization

In the past, manual assays—such as those used to detect microsatellites—were required to determine the presence of a gene sequence in a sample.  The TaqMan™ SNP Genotyping Assay and other end point assays have greatly simplified and standardized genotyping, but the process still requires intensive liquid-transfer steps and cost prohibitive volumes of reagents and sample. It was the introduction of Fluidigm Dynamic Array™ integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) that enabled the unprecedented efficiency possible today.

Video: Fluidigm CEO on Chips and Salmon

“ Before the introduction of Fluidigm chips, scientists had to rely on conventional plates for marker detection. Plates simply don’t have the throughput necessary for large-scale applications, such as fisheries management or seed quality control,” said Jim Seeb, Research Professor, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, at the University of Washington.

Fluidigm Dynamic Array™ IFCs for SNP Genotyping

Enabling marker-driven agriculture and wildlife management

Fluidigm Dynamic Array™ chips are uniquely suited for a range of applications that require very high sample throughput.

Video: Why IFCs for HT Applications

These include, for example, validation studies in which many thousands of individuals, whether from a single seed lot or from a salmon run population, are tested against as many as 1,000 genetic markers. Validated markers can be integrated into an assortment of high-throughput industry applications such as the following:

The Fluidigm SNP genotyping system offers outstanding data quality and the most streamlined workflow in the industry. Genotyping results can be obtained in a matter of hours with only minutes of hands-on-time.

Key Benefits of Dynamic Arrays

  • 99 percent call rate accuracy, 99.7 percent call accuracy
  • 100-fold fewer pipetting steps compared to microwell plates
  • 100-fold greater sample throughput compared to microwell plates

Success Stories

Alaska Department of Fish and Games Uses Fluidigm IFC Technology to Inform Management of the World's Most Valuable Wild Salmon Fisheries

Fluidigm fields of interest salmon

"We use Fluidigm’s 96.96 Dynamic Array chips and the BioMark System and EP1™ Reader to assay the genotypes at an array of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in samples from salmon fisheries in Alaska.  These data provide information on the abundance, location, and timing for stocks of salmon that are harvested in various fisheries as they return to spawn in their natal streams. This information is used to manage this critical natural resource to maximize the use of the resource while ensuring that enough salmon spawn to maintain sustained production. For example, this technology is used to track the timing and strength of sockeye salmon runs entering Bristol Bay, Alaska, and this information is used to guide harvest decisions in the world’s largest and most valuable sockeye salmon fishery.

Our genetic analysis program using SNPs was originally developed using conventional 384-well microplates to process our samples, but the high-volume requirements made continued use of 384-well microplates impractical for the real-world applications we face. With the adoption of the Fluidigm 48.48 and 96.96 Dynamic Array chips, we have been able to integrate Fluidigm’s technology into our laboratory workflow and achieve the higher throughput we need at a reduced fraction of the cost per genotype."

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

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