Ian Johnston, CEO of the St Andrews firm, commented: “Our breeding programme customers have always had access to our genetic testing services, but recently we’ve seen demand increase. Whether it’s impartially checking the ploidy of eggs, or conducting spot checks to avoid in-breeding in broodstock – people want to have certainty over the quality of their supplies and the long-term health of their stocks”.
The tests - which can be applied to a wide range of aquatic species - will be available globally, and conducted by Xelect’s highly qualified experts, led by operations director Tom Ashton.
“Our teams use the latest technology and insights to offer fast turnaround, guaranteed technical excellence, total confidentiality and – of course – a low price,” Dr Ashton reflects.
The services in detail:
- Ploidy determination: a 24-hour service for fish breeders looking to improve their processes or to certify their product, and for farms looking to check the quality of their supplies.
- Sex determination in salmonids: a way to manage stock control which allows sex to be determined at the earliest stages. Results usually returned within 10 days of sample receipt.
- Genotyping and relatedness analysis: The genetic analysis of broodstock enables problems associated with inbreeding to be avoided and ensures the long-term sustainability of a breeding programme.
- Gene expression: Xelect offers gene expression measurements to help with the development of new feeds and vaccines.