BD Buys Single-Cell Technology
This is BD Life Science’s second acquisition for NGS sample preparation (see IBO 10/15/14). Cellular Research’s Precise assays for targeted mRNA sequencing can prepare up to 4,608 samples at one time. Using Molecular Indexing barcoding technology, mRNA is labeled prior to reverse transcription, allowing tracking before PCR amplification, which can introduce bias.
Franklin Lakes, NJ 8/25/15—BD Life Sciences, part of Becton, Dickinson, has acquired Cellular Research for an undisclosed amount. Cellular Research develops products for massively parallel single-cell genetic analysis. Its Molecular Indexing technology measures gene expression profiles in single cells. “The acquisition of Cellular Research, combined with our existing cell sorting technology, will provide our customers with a more complete and simplified workflow solution for single-cell analysis,” stated Linda Tharby, executive vice president and president of BD Life Sciences. The companies have collaborated on workflows for Cellular Research’s Precise products with BD’s FACS instruments since September 2014.
