Premier Biosoft International has announced an alliance with MRC-Holland to develop a software package for designing custom MLPA probes
Premier Biosoft International, a bioinformatics company, and MRC-Holland, the inventors of MLPA technology, announce an alliance.
Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) is a method to establish the copy number of up to 45 nucleic acid sequences in a single reaction.
Detecting copy number changes in the genome, the primary application of MLPA technology, is a widely researched area.
Current efforts are directed towards more comprehensive cataloging and characterisation of these changes.
MLPA probes are able to discriminate between sequences that differ by just one nucleotide, making them a highly sensitive and precise tool for detecting the changes.
It is rapidly becoming the most favored among the currently used methods.
The alliance will help MLPA users design custom oligos for genes that do not have kits available.
Currently, no such design tool exists.
"With this collaboration, both Premier Biosoft and MRC-Holland will use their core competencies and expertise to develop a powerful bioinformatics tool for MLPA users." commented Kay Brown, VP business development and marketing.
