DA-LBC spearheads advancement of research initiatives through Gene Sequencing and Fragment Analysis training

The Department of Agriculture-Livestock Biotechnology Center (DA-LBC), with the coordination of the Medical Test Systems, Inc. initiated a three-day capacity enhancement activity entitled, “End-User Training of the SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer” on February 1-3, 2023 at the Livestock Innovations and Biotechnology Complex, Philippine Carabao Center National Headquarters and Gene Pool, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

This capacity enhancement activity comprised of both lecture and hands-on training and was attended by technical staff from the DA-LBC and its counterpart institutions, the Crop Biotechnology Center (DA-CBC) and Fisheries Biotechnology Center (DA-FBC), hosted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI), respectively. Said training also invited participants from the DA-LBC’s Livestock Biotechnology Research for Development (R4D) Network, namely, the Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) and the National Dairy Authority (DA-NDA).

Mr. Dale S. Pinili, M.Sc., and Ms. Eden Beth B. Asilo, M.Sc., Field Application Scientists from Medical Test Systems, Inc. presented their lectures and supervised the hands-on training on Capillary Electrophoresis Techniques, Sanger Sequencing and Fragment Analysis Workflows. They also provided operational instructions in Sequence and Fragment Data Analysis using the Sequence Analysis and GeneMapper Software as well as Data Troubleshooting.

With the conclusion of the 2017-2021 Livestock Biotechnology Research for Development and Extension (RDE) Agenda, the Biotechnology Centers (Crop Biotechnology Center, Fisheries Biotechnology Center, and Livestock Biotechnology Center) under the banner of the DA, proposed for the establishment of a sequencing facility to elevate the research capabilities of the Biotechnology Center’s Research for Development (R4D) Network for expansion of research initiatives for food security and sufficiency. This proposal was then later approved for funding by the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Program (DA-BPO).

The sequencing facility was established last January 2023 and is currently housed under the DA-PCC National Headquarters and Gene Pool, the host agency for the DA-LBC.Photos by Joel A. Miguel Jr., Anne Franchette C. Asuncion & Arren Christian M. De Guia