Genomics Service

The Genomics Service aims to support university research groups, as well as other organizations and companies, by providing them with the most advanced instrumentation commercially available for DNA analysis. It also offers technical consulting services for non-expert users who wish to incorporate these techniques into their work.

The preparative methodologies used are capable of processing a large number of samples in short periods of time thanks to the automation of processes on the MICROLAB STARlet robotic platform (Hamilton Robotics). The available preparative techniques are as follows:

DNA extractions from any organism or tissue.
PCR amplification of any gene on demand. We also have universal primers for molecular species identification.
Agarose gel electrophoresis: verification of PCR products and genotyping.
Purification of PCR products
Real-time PCR: absolute quantification, gene expression analysis, TaqMan probes and molecular diagnostics.
Cultivation of microorganisms: fungi, bacteria and yeasts.
Quantifications of DNA, RNA and proteins using fluorimetry.
DNA analysis using two methodologies:

Automatic sequencing by capillary electrophoresis.
Automated sequencing yields the nucleotide sequence of a DNA sample, which may be cloned into a vector or directly amplified by PCR. The sequencing method used (Sanger sequencing by capillary electrophoresis) offers high performance when sequencing fragments up to 2 kb in size, generating data with uniform peak height, which allows for more precise base assignment.
Genotyping or analysis of the size of fragments generated by PCR.
Through genotyping, one or multiple amplified DNA fragments can be visualized simultaneously, thus obtaining banding patterns that can be specific to each species or that show variability among individuals of a species.

Applications

DNA analysis currently has multiple potential fields of application, among which we highlight:

Basic research in Molecular Genetics: phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of organisms.
Basic research in molecular ecology: population studies, identification of species in larval stages, genetic marking of individuals for field studies…
Biomedicine: molecular characterization of clinically relevant genes, genetic susceptibility to certain types of cancer, detection of mutations in oncogenes, drug design…
Human genetics: diagnosis of hereditary diseases, genetic counseling…
Forensic medicine: identification of individuals, paternity tests…
Microbiology: molecular diagnosis of infections and identification of bacterial, fungal, and viral species…
Veterinary medicine: pedigrees, identification of genes of interest in breeding programs, sexing of birds…
Agri-food: identification of vegetable varieties, traceability, fraud detection…
Biodiversity: conservation of endangered species.

Equipment:

TELSTAR Laminar Flow Cabinet
Invitrogen Qubit4 Fluorimeter
BIO-RAD electrophoretic equipment
SpectraMax QuickDrop Molecular Devices Spectrophotometer
Tissue Homogenizer MP Biomedicals (1)
NÜVE Bacteriological Incubator
MICROLAB STARlet Hamilton Robotics automated process platform (1)
Axygen Gel Documentation System (1)
QuantStudio 3 Applied BioSystems Real-Time Thermocycler (1)
Veriti Applied Biosystems Thermocycler (1)
TFM-20 UV Transilluminator (2)
Applied BioSystems 3500 Automatic DNA Sequencer (2)
BIO-RAD iCycler Real-Time Thermocycler (2)

Financing

The infrastructure of this Service has been partially financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF):

1. Project UNLL10-3E-1387 Funded by:

2. Help EQC2019-005677-P funded by:

The hiring of technical staff for this Service in the period 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 has been financed by the Tenerife Island Council through the MEDI-FDCAN 2016-2025 Program.

The hiring of technical staff for this Service has been financed by the "State Program to Develop, Attract and Retain Talent, within the framework of the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2021-2023.