A small German biotechnology company is literally going for the gold in the burgeoning market for DNA microarray systems. FRIZ Biochem of Munich is developing two new electrochemical DNA microarray readout products that will use gold-coated chips for analyzing batches of genes.
Simpler to use and less expensive than state-of-the-art fluorescent technology, the systems could be a boon for small to medium-sized research and development laboratories currently priced out of microarray research. The new electrochemical technology is also more sensitive to mismatches and can identify single nucleotide polymorphisms.
Both new systems use changes in conductivity to detect gene targets. The first, EDDA (electrically detected displacement assay), will be available by the end of 2003, according to FRIZ Biochem CFO/CTO Harrald Lossau, while the second, LADER (light-induced direct electrically read), is past the proof-of-concept stage.
Lossau projects the systems will cost between $10,000 and $30,000 (US)--as little as a tenth of ...
