SBIR Phase I: The DNA Barcode Scanner: Democratizing Genetic Information For Conservation

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是将基因鉴定的权力交给那些需要它的人，在保护的第一线。DNA条码扫描器将使任何人，在任何地方，执行低成本，快速，自动化的DNA测试，以验证组织样本的身份，不需要专门的培训，昂贵的实验室设备，试剂，或可靠的电源，在最需要的地方-在现场。这项技术进步有可能彻底改变物种识别，防止物种灭绝，保护消费者和我们的食物供应，并对抗对全球生物多样性的威胁。这项创新的商业潜力包括提高我们供应链的安全性和可持续性，打击代价高昂的环境欺诈，检测威胁我们国家经济、安全和健康的害虫和病原体。最初的市场机会是解决海鲜供应商、分销商和零售商未满足的需求；政府监管机构和执法机构；在美国171亿美元的海产品市场中，有超过30%的海产品存在错误标签和欺诈行为，每次非法进口的价值高达25万美元。拟议的项目将开发可定制的DNA收集、提取和扩增试剂盒，使用户能够在单个设备中从组织样本到物种鉴定。本项目重点关注自动化样品制备的科学和技术挑战。该公司的目标是创建一个集成设备，将验证海鲜产品（我们的第一个市场）从样本收集到DNA提取，DNA扩增，并最终，物种鉴定。该项目的目标是：1)确定一种可靠和直观的方法来收集海产品的DNA，并创建一个原型收集工具；2)原型一个易于使用和高度灵活的DNA提取和样品制备组件，以提供适合分析的DNA； 3)充分整合微流控过程和分子化学（DNA扩增和分析），明确验证多物种。他们将设计和测试几种收集、提取和扩增试剂盒的原型，并与用户一起进行测试，以确定最可靠、最简单的方法来提供可靠的物种鉴定。他们的目标是提供一个功能齐全的原型，对用户来说是直观的，并且可以在多个现场环境中执行海鲜物种验证测试。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to place the power of genetic identification in the hands of those who need it, at the front lines of conservation. The DNA Barcode Scanner will enable anyone, anywhere, to perform a low-cost, rapid, automated DNA test to validate the identity of a tissue sample, without specialized training, expensive lab-based equipment, reagents, or reliable power, where it is needed most - in the field. This technological advance has the potential to revolutionize species identification to prevent species extinction, to protect consumers and our food supply, and to combat threats to global biodiversity. The innovation's commercial potential includes improving the safety and sustainability of our supply chains, combatting costly environmental fraud, and detecting pests and pathogens that threaten our nation's economy, security, and health. The initial market opportunity is to address unmet demand from seafood suppliers, distributors, and retailers; government regulators and enforcement agents; and conservation and natural resources entities, for increased transparency and integrity of seafood supply chains by ending seafood mislabeling and fraud, which occurs in over 30% the $17.1 billion dollar U.S. seafood market and is worth up to $250,000 per illegal import.The proposed project will develop the customizable DNA collection, extraction, and amplification cartridge that enables a user to go from tissue sample to species identification in a single device. This project focuses on the scientific and technical challenge of automating sample preparation. The company's goal is to create an integrated device that will validate seafood products (our first market) from sample collection to DNA extraction, DNA amplification, and, ultimately, species identification. The goals of this project are to 1) determine a reliable and intuitive method for collecting DNA from a seafood product and create a prototype collection tool, 2) prototype an easy-to-use and highly flexible DNA extraction and sample preparation component to provide DNA suitable for analysis, and 3) fully integrate microfluidic processes and molecular chemistry (DNA amplification and analysis) with clear validation of multiple species. They will design and test several prototypes of the collection, extraction, and amplification cartridge and test these with users to identify the most robust and simplest method for delivering confident species identification. Their objective is to deliver a fully functional prototype that is intuitive for users and can perform a seafood species validation test in multiple field environments.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.