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Patent of the Month: May 2021
Patent Description
Short Tandem Repeat (STR) DNA markers are used to genotype (fingerprint) cell lines. These markers usually contain four to five repeating units (DNA bases) and the number of repeats is unique to an individual. This method allows scientists to obtain relatively precise and accurate information about a cell line to establish identity of the cell line and information about the origin of the cells.
A cell line defines a population of cells that can be maintained in culture for an extended period of time. Cell lines are usually clonal, meaning the entire population originated from a single common ancestor cell. Cell lines are used in many different types of research, such as cancer therapeutics and vaccine development.
Eleven additional mouse STR markers were developed to address the limitations of the initial mouse cell line authentication assay to increase resolution and discrimination between same strain mouse samples. These additional STR markers have been added to the existing assay and were successfully used to identify individual mouse cell lines in an interlaboratory study.
Inventors
Jamie Almeida
Kenneth Cole
Technology Type
Biochemical Science
Benefits
These additional eleven mouse STR markers will add resolution between mouse cell lines derived from the same strain, allowing a more accurate STR profile. These additional markers will add confidence to genotyping measurements to detect misidentification and contamination events to improve the quality of research using mouse cell lines.
Licensing Inquiries may be sent to TPO [at] NIST.GOV
View other patents of the month here.