Regulatory News:
Eurofins Scientific (Paris:ERF):
Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA), one of the global leaders in Genomics
Services, announces a research breakthrough in genetic discrimination
between identical monozygotic twins.
Until now science has accepted the fact that monozygotic twins - also
called “identical” twins from one fertilized ovum - could not be
genetically discriminated. Even though there were theoretical
considerations that monozygotic twins are not fully identical in their
genome, no tools existed for forensic DNA fingerprinting in crime or
paternity cases.
This has changed now. Eurofins, the European leader in genomic services,
forensics and paternity tests, has successfully completed a genetic and
forensic research project on twins. Based on the results Eurofins has
developed the world’s first test to identify genetic differences between
identical twins. These tests can now be used by authorities, courts and
medicine to solve cases involving monozygotic twins as originator of DNA
traces in crime, or as alleged parents.
Building on the long forensics and genomics expertise of Eurofins, the
scientists used the unique combination of leading labs available at
Eurofins to look at the differences in the genome of identical twins.
For this purpose they applied Eurofins’ advanced sequencing and
bioinformatics technologies. Genome sequencing is a technique that
allows researchers to read and decipher the genetic information found in
the DNA of anything from bacteria to plants to animals. The vast amounts
of data collected in this process are then analysed by means of
intelligent proprietary information technology, called bioinformatics.
The scientists investigated the genetic material taken from sperm
samples of two twins and from the blood sample of the child of one twin.
Bioinformatics analysis revealed five mutations, so called Single
Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) present in the twin father and the
child, but not in the twin uncle. These findings proved the hypothesis
that rare mutations will occur early after or before the ovum has split
into two, and that such mutations will be carried on into body and sperm
cells.
The Eurofins “Twin Test” is available in all laboratories of the
Eurofins Genomics Business Line. The test will be performed at the
Eurofins DNA Campus in Ebersberg, at the laboratories of Eurofins MWG
Operon and Eurofins Medigenomix Forensik GmbH.
For more information, please visit http://www.eurofins.com/en/media-centre/press-releases.aspx
Copyright Business Wire 2013