Los Altos, CA — Boreal Genomics, a growing life sciences company and developer of the SCODA nucleic acid extraction technology, announced today release of the Aurora nucleic acid purification system to researchers worldwide. The instrument delivers unparalleled yield and purity of nucleic acids from low abundance samples, removes all species of PCR inhibitors, and also offers recovery of high molecular weight DNA from 50 kb up to 1 Mb. “Aurora enables genetic analysis of the most challenging samples in life science research, metagenomics, and forensic casework; and we continue to demonstrate the unique advantages of this technology for agricultural biotechnology and clinical applications,” said David Broemeling, Director of Marketing.

Aurora utilizes Boreal’s proprietary electrophoretic technology to simultaneously concentrate and purify nucleic acids from environmental samples, which provides an ideal methodology for purifying template for next-generation sequencing or large-insert metagenomic library preparation. Dr. Josh Neufeld, Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, has indicated that “Compared to alternative purification methods we have tested, Boreal provides a solution that maximizes yield, purity and molecular weight while minimizing hands-on time.”

“In our hands, Boreal’s system has demonstrated exceptional capability to effectively remove a number of PCR inhibitors suggesting that the technology can be an important tool for analysis of difficult forensic samples,” said Dr. Bruce Budowle, Professor of Forensic and Investigative Genetics at the University of North Texas. “An additional desirable aspect of Boreal’s technology is its ability to concentrate low level nucleic acids that promises to facilitate analysis of limited quantity evidentiary samples.”

The system’s revolutionary workflow offers the flexibility to use various lysis techniques, including chemical and mechanical cell disruption, or can extract nucleic acids directly from liquid and gel matrices. Up to 5 mL of sample is placed in the Aurora cartridge and following electrophoretic concentration, the purified sample is removed in 60 uL of buffer ready for analysis in qPCR, sequencing, or for cloning.

Boreal is currently accepting orders for the Aurora system with units ready to ship immediately.

About Boreal Genomics

At Boreal Genomics, we are delivering innovative technology that enables genomic analysis of the most challenging samples in life science research and clinical diagnostics. Our method revolutionizes approaches to total nucleic acid extraction and the targeted enrichment of specific DNA sequences.

Total nucleic acid extraction is commercially available in the Aurora nucleic acid purification system which enables recovery of high yield and purity nucleic acids for successful PCR analysis or sequencing of challenging samples such as soil and environmental matrices rich in inhibitors including oil sands, sediments and contaminated water; stool; plant tissues and seeds; and difficult forensic casework specimens. Our technology also enables recovery of high molecular weight DNA from 50 kb – 1 Mb for cloning and library generation.

Target enrichment is a second-generation technology that is capable of unprecedented enrichment of nucleic acids, with a demonstrated ability to enrich for point mutations against background by 10,000 fold without PCR amplification. We plan to expand commercialization of this technology into oncology related molecular diagnostics by enabling the enrichment of rare cancer alleles directly from blood. Our scientists are also collaborating with clinicians in improving the detection of infectious diseases by applying our technology to enrich for pathogen sequences from whole blood.

Boreal holds an exclusive license to a broad patent portfolio from the University of British Columbia on the novel Synchronous Coefficient of Drag Alteration (SCODA) technology.