BioTronics

BioTronics is a biotech company headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts in the United States. The company is the developer of the AmpliSensor technique and its application to high resolution Polymerase Chain Reaction assays. [cite web | url=http://www.biotech-register.com/listcogo.cfm?state=MA&company=Biotronics%5ECorporation&defn=POLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTION&code=ASSA%20POJH | title=Biotronics corporation | work=Biotech-register.com | accessdate=2007-01-19]

The AmpliSensor method is a real-time tool used for the detection and quantitative measurement of DNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The test works by detecting fluorescence. It is based on the principle that fluorescence resonance energy transfer can be used to detect duplex formation between complementary nucleic acid strands.cite journal | url=http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/10/2666.asp | title=Establishment and assessment of two methods for quantitative detection of serum duck hepatitis B virus DNA | journal=World J Gastroenterol | issue=2004 September 15;10(18) | pages=2666–2669 | author=Ya-Xi Chen, Ai-Long Huang, Zhen-Yuan Qi, Shu-Hua Guo ISSN 1007-9327 CN 14-1219/R] Two complementary DNA strands are labeled with donor and acceptor fluorophores, respectively. If the strands come together with base pairing , the fluorescence resonance energy transfer between the fluorophores is facilitated. Therefore, the extent of energy transfer can be used to measure the amount of duplex formation between the two strands and hence the degree to which they are complementary in sequence. [cite web | url=http://www.freshpatents.com/Species-specific-genus-specific-and-universal-dna-probes-and-amplification-primers-to-rapidly-detect-and-identify-common-bacterial-and-fungal-pathogens-and-associated-antibiotic-resistance-genes-from-clinical-specimens-for-diagnosis-in-microbiology-labor-dt20061123ptan20060263810.php?type=description | title=Species-specific, genus-specific and universal dna probes and amplification primers to rapidly detect and identify common bacterial and fungal pathogens and associated antibiotic resistance genes from clinical specimens for diagnosis in microbiology labor | work=FreshPatents.com | accessdate=2007-01-19] It can be used in for a variety of research and clinical purposes, including the detection of a specific pathogen in a blood sample taken from a human patient. For instance, the method has been used successfully for the diagnosis of Hepatitis, tuberculosis, [cite journal | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11263388&dopt=Abstract | title=Detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis by AmpliSensor-PCR technique and its clinical application | publisher=Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi | date=February 21 1998 |pages=79–81 | language=Chinese (with English abstract) | accessdate=2007-01-19 | author=Tan Y, Li Y, Tan S] and cytomegalovirus. [cite journal | author=Rautenberg, P, | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=10405895&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum | title="Evaluation of the AmpliSensor PCR and the SHARP signal detection system for the early prediction of symptomatic CMV infection in solid transplant recipients" | journal=Journal of Clinical Virology, Volume 13, Issue 1-2 | pages=81–94 | accessdate=2007-01-19] The test was invented in 1991 by BioTronics' president Cheng Wang. [cite web | url=http://babygendermentor.com/information.php?information_id=3 | title=Science behind Baby Gender Test | accessdate=2007-01-19] BioTronics received a Unisted States trademark on AmpliSensor in 1996 (U.S. trademark registration number 1958576) and the trademark was declared dead and cancelled on December 2 2006 [cite web | url=http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=efvdko.2.1 | title=AmpliSensor | work=United States Patent and Trademark Office | accessdate=2007-01-21]

Wang is also the president of Acu-Gen, the maker of the Baby Gender Mentor assay kit. The BGM test is marketed for determining the gender of an unborn baby as early as five weeks into a pregnancy.cite web | url=http://babygendermentor.com/information.php?information_id=4 | title=A Total Advantage | work=Acu-Gen website | accessdate=2007-01-16] The test works by detecting fetal cells that have entered the mother's bloodstream through fetomaternal microchimerism. The company performs two tests; the first is a quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the other is a proprietary test. The sample is tested for the presence of the Y chromosome, which is present only in males. If there is no Y chromosome, the embryo is female.cite news | title=Parents May Welcome Baby Gender Test, But Bioethicists Worry | author=O'Crowley, Peggy | url=http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache:MblyRxC0KekJ:www.newhousenews.com/archive/ocrowley071105.html+%22Parents+May+Welcome+Baby+Gender+Test,+But+Bioethicists+Worry%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=firefox-a | date=2005 | publisher=Newhouse News Service | accessdate=2007-01-16] The test is controversial both because of its claimed 99.9% accuracy and over possible medical ethics questions associated with its use.cite news| author= Boyce, Nell | date=2005-10-29 | url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4867895 | title=Critics Question Accuracy of Fetus Sex Test | publisher=National Public Radio | accessdate=2007-01-16] cite news | author=Boyce, Nell | date=2005-10-20 | url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4952404 | title=Questions Raised Over Accuracy of Gender Test | publisher=National Public Radio | accessdate=2007-01-16] cite news | url=http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16282643&method=full&siteid=64736&headline=for-sale-on-the-net--the-sex-of-your-new-baby--name_page.html | title=Exclusive: For Sale: Sex of Your Baby - Anger flares over sex over £150 home test | date=October 23 2005 | author=White, Donna | publisher=Sunday Mail (UK) | accessdate=2007-01-19] cite news | url=http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16282644&method=full&siteid=64736&headline=kit-said-i-d-have-a-boy---but-my-tot-s-a-girl--name_page.html | title=Kit said I'd have a boy.. but my tot's a girl | publisher=publisher=Sunday Mail (UK) | date=October 23 2005 | accessdate=2007-01-19] cite news | url=http://www.kmsp.com/news/health/story.asp?1649175 | title=Baby Gender Mentor | work=Fox9 News | date=2006 | accessdate=2006-07-17] cite news | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/10/wfoetus10.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/07/10/ixworld.html | title=Revolutionary foetus sex test raises eugenics fears | author=Langton, James | publisher=Daily Telegraph | date=2005-10-07 | accessdate=2007-01-16] cite news| title=Gender Bender - A new test claims it can determine fetal gender as early as five weeks into pregnancy. Doctors are skeptical. | publisher=Newsweek | author=Goldschmidt, Debra | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9732860/site/newsweek/ | date=2005-10-18 | accessdate=2007-01-16] Acu-Gen and BioTronics share a common headquarters.cite news | author=Boyce, Nell | date=2005-10-20 | url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4952404 | title=Questions Raised Over Accuracy of Gender Test | publisher=National Public Radio | accessdate=2007-01-16]

References

Further reading

*Wang CNJ, Wu KY, and Wang H. (1995) "Quantitative PCR Using the AmpliSensor Assay," in Dieffenbach, CW and Dveksler, GS, eds., "PCR Primer: A Laboratory Manual", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, pages 193-202.
*cite patent|US|5348853 "Method for reducing non-specific priming in DNA amplification", Wang CNJ, Wu KY. (1994).
*cite patent|US|5567583 "Method for reducing non-specific priming in DNA detection", Wang CNJ, Wu KY. (1996).
*cite patent|US|5712386 "Kits for detecting a nucleic acid with blocking oligonucleotides", Wang CNJ, Wu KY. (1998).
*cite patent|US|6033854 "Quantitative PCR using blocking oligonucleotides", Kurnit, DM, Chiang PW, Wang CNJ. (2000).