NEOGEN develops genomic test for whiteleg shrimp

LINCOLN, Neb., March 11, 2020 — NEOGEN Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG) announced today that it has developed the GGP Shrimp 50K, a universally applicable tool incorporating the latest advancements in genetic marker information for whiteleg shrimp.

“Globally, shrimp is one of the fastest growing protein sources, so developing genetic tools to aid whiteleg shrimp producers with making the best data-driven decisions is a critical strategy for our team moving forward,” said Jeremy Walker, marketing director for NEOGEN Genomics.

The test for whiteleg shrimp is now available through the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) and is the first product to be released in CAT’s AQUAarray line. The test can be used for a variety of applications, including parentage assignment, assessment of genetic diversity, traceability, genomic selection, and more.

“NEOGEN’s expertise with a unified local objective function for optimally selecting SNPs on arrays for agricultural genomics applications is perfectly applied in the creation of this very valuable tool for genomic selection for shrimp breeders,” said Tom Schultz, NEOGEN’s director of sales and marketing. “Combining this with the favorable price point will lead to a significant positive impact in genomic improvement.”

Also referred to as Pacific white shrimp or king prawn, Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is a variety of prawn commonly caught or farmed for food. It is native to the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean.

TECH SPECS:

  • Includes 6,500 published single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) proven for genome wide association studies (GWAS)
  • GWAS and genomic selection
  • 43,474 high-quality and informative SNPs from varied geographic regions
  • SNPs are strategically spaced across the mapped shrimp genome
  • 60 putative functional SNPs for ammonia tolerance, growth, and disease resistance

APPLICATIONS:

  • Genome wide association studies
  • Genomic selection
  • Parentage assignment
  • Assessments of genetic diversity, inbreeding, and population structure
  • Traceability
  • Marker-assisted selection (putative trait associated SNPs included on the chip)

NEOGEN’s worldwide genomics operations deliver innovative, affordable DNA testing for the discovery and commercial application of genomic advances that enhance the safety and abundance of life. DNA testing services are provided for food, animals, aquaculture, agronomy, forestry and horticulture, as well as supporting the research institutions and breeding organizations serving these industries.