Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) announced today it has launched a new thermal cycler, the high-performance Stratagene Gradient Cycler. The new instrument broadens Agilent’s PCR product line and gives researchers access to a complete workflow solution for end-point PCR from a single supplier. PCR is a fast and inexpensive technique used to amplify or copy small segments of DNA. Once amplified, the DNA produced by PCR can be used in many different research applications. For example, most mapping techniques in the Human Genome Project rely on PCR. “With the introduction of the high-performance Stratagene Gradient Cycler, Agilent now offers a complete workflow solution for end-point PCR,” said Bill Molnar, vice president and general manager, Genomics and Diagnostics. “Our expertise in enzyme engineering has produced one of the broadest portfolios of high-fidelity PCR reagents available, and we now have a new-generation thermal cycler to support this offering.” The Stratagene Gradient Cycler provides accurate and rapid thermal cycling for PCR amplification and related molecule biological assays. A flexible system with simple snap-out, snap-in thermal blocks, the cycler accommodates 96-well, 96-well fast and 384-well fast blocks. “The Stratagene Gradient Cycler was developed to maintain the high quality of Stratagene’s original Robocycler,” said Rena McClory, senior director of marketing, Stratagene branded products. “It will provide enhanced thermal cycling for a wide number of applications, including routine PCR for screening, high-fidelity PCR for cloning applications, reverse-transcription PCR for gene expression assays, and thermal cycling for mutagenesis experiments.” The Stratagene Gradient Cycler is on display here at the American Society of Human Genetics annual conference through Nov. 15. Please visit Agilent at Booth 202. For more information and to register for Agilent’s seminars and event at ASHG, please visit www.chem.agilent.com.