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

这个小型企业创新研究(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到那些需要它的人手中，放在保护的第一线。DNA条形码扫描仪将使任何人、任何地方的任何人都能够执行低成本、快速、自动化的DNA测试，以验证组织样本的身份，而无需专门的培训、昂贵的实验室设备、试剂或现场最需要它的可靠电源。这一技术进步有可能使物种识别发生革命性变化，以防止物种灭绝，保护消费者和我们的食品供应，并打击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，以及检测威胁我国经济、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、政府监管机构和执法人员以及保护和自然资源实体对提高海鲜供应链透明度和完整性的需求，通过结束海鲜错误标签和欺诈行为来提高海产品供应链的透明度和完整性。在价值171亿美元的美国海产品市场中，海鲜错误标签和欺诈行为发生在30%以上，每非法进口一次价值高达25万美元。拟议中的项目将开发可定制的DNA采集、提取和扩增盒，使用户能够在单一设备中从组织样本到物种鉴定。该项目侧重于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种集成设备，从样本采集到DNA提取、DNA放大，最终验证海产品(我们的第一个市场)的物种鉴定。该项目的目标是1)确定从海产品中收集DNA的可靠和直观的方法，并创建一个原型收集工具；2)原型一个易于使用且高度灵活的DNA提取和样品制备组件，以提供适合分析的DNA；以及3)将微流控过程和分子化学(DNA扩增和分析)与多种物种的明确验证充分结合。他们将设计和测试收集、提取和扩增盒的几个原型，并与用户一起测试这些原型，以确定提供可信物种鉴定的最可靠和最简单的方法。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，可以在多种野外环境中进行海鲜物种验证测试。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.