European Collection of Cell Cultures releases all five Human Random Control (HRC) DNA (480 HRC individual DNAs) in convenient 96 well panels
Building on the success of the ECACC Human Random Control (HRC) DNA in genetics research, ECACC has responded to customer demand and re-formatted all 480 HRC DNA samples into a more convenient 96 well format.
This new development has been made possible by ECACC's investment, during 2005, in automated liquid handling technologies.
This development along with more efficient work practises has had the added benefit of substantially reducing the price of obtaining the whole 480 HRC DNA resources, bringing it within the scope of individual consumable budgets.
The HRC DNA consists of authenticated, high quality purified human genomic DNA.
Each of the available 480 samples is from a single individual, providing a control population of randomly selected, non-related UK caucasian blood donors.
The HRC DNA is available as a series of five panels each containing samples from 96 separate individuals in a convenient 8x12 well format.
This is a readily available, cost effective and renewable source of standardised control DNA samples for use in a range of applications that include population studies, mutation analysis, SNP genotyping, validation of technology, assay development and validation, association analysis, comparative genomic hybridisation, and genomic DNA library construction.
The DNA panels can effectively supplement matched controls; they provide a second genomic control population to supplement initial results.
Another prime use of the DNA panels has been to identify any DNA related problems prior to starting a large-scale project.
The DNA panels can be obtained 'off the shelf' avoiding the inconvenience of preparing your own controls.
Sourcing samples from colleagues can be prone to limitations with regard to administration, quality control, repeat access and sample sizes.
Use of the ECACC HRC DNA can overcome these difficulties.
HRC DNA acts as an important reference control.
Tim Frayling, a senior lecturer based at the University of Exeter, Peninsula Medical School, is one of a group of researchers forming the Warren 2 consortium concerned with studying the genetic basis of type 2 diabetes.
Frayling said, "The HRC DNA is an extremely important control frequency reference for genes and gene variants in the UK Caucasian population for comparison with samples from individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes".
"The allele frequency of gene variation is very similar to those found in other population based control sets, eg, the Exeter Family Study control population".
"The HRC samples have been invaluable to substantiate our findings; providing an ideal second control population to confirm the initial results obtained using the primary control population were not affected by regional bias".
"Use of the ECACC HRC DNA has enabled the Warren 2 consortium to play a central role in the identification of type 2 diabetes genes".
"These include calpain-10, Kir6.2 and HNF4 alpha".
"Most excitingly and more recently (March 2006) association between common variants in the TCF7L2 gene and type 2 diabetes has been reported by a team in Iceland".
"We have replicated this result and shown that it is the largest common genetic effect on type 2 diabetes risk in the UK so far reported (publication pending)." The HRC DNA is extracted from lymphoblastoid cell lines derived by EBV transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes from single donor blood samples.
Informed consent has been obtained for their use in research.
A reproducible supply of standardised DNA that represents the genome of each original donor is assured as the cell lines can be propagated in culture indefinitely.
The benefits associated with using the HRC DNA panels.
Reproducible: the DNA is derived from immortal single donor cell lines enabling a renewable supply of DNA that can be reproduced batch to batch.
High quality: The latest automated technologies are used to ensure consistent production of pure, high molecular weight genomic DNA at a competitive price.
Standardised: 2mg of each DNA sample is provided at a standard concentration of 100 ng/ml.
Authenticated: rigorous sample tracking and quality control procedures, which include short tandem repeat (STR) multiplex PCR analysis, are used to assure panel consistency.
Cost effective: the use of automated technology combined with increased demand has enabled significant cost reduction and supply of the DNA at a competitive price to the customers.
