• Ideal solution for molecular biologists who need to quantify nucleic acids
• Cost-effective detection device provides exceptional performance and reliability
• Absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence detection modes in one instrument
• Supports sample measurements in microplates, PCR tubes or cuvettes

Zurich, Switzerland, 8 March 2002 - The modern molecular biology laboratory is host to diverse technologies, methods and instruments needed to perform research in the rapidly changing Life Sciences. Research personnel must routinely perform a wide range of advanced procedures that require flexible detection devices to bridge the gap between molecular biological methods and the efficient generation of high-quality data. To meet customer needs, Tecan has introduced GENios with the molecular biology laboratory in mind. This flexible detection device is especially suited to the quantification of nucleic acids, for example polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products, cDNA and oligonucleotides.

GENios offers customers a competitively priced detection device with the advantage of three-in-one detection in one instrument (absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence). Recognizing the unprecedented number of reaction vessel formats used by researchers, GENios has been designed to handle different microplate formats (6 to 384 wells), PCR tubes and cuvettes making it the ideal solution for many standard molecular biology procedures. As such, the device is suitable for many applications ranging from gene expression and transfection studies, binding assays, ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays) and enzyme kinetic measurements up to cell growth and proliferation studies, cytotoxicity and apoptotic (cell death) assays.

Added to these distinctive advantages is top-to-bottom reading capability with a single mouse click, which is particularly useful for measuring samples with high turbidity. For cell-based assays, the GENios can also detect multiple labels per well. If required, GENios can be easily integrated into the Genesis Robotic Sample Processor to give laboratories flexible detection options in their automated systems.

Michael Spörri, CEO of Synergene Biotech GmbH, commented:” We have been using the GENios instrument in our laboratories for the quantitation of DNA fragments and templates for DNA sequencing purposes. Compared to other detection devices, we have been particularly impressed by the reliability of the data generated by this instrument and the possibility for integration into 2 workstations such as the Genesis RSP.” He added: “ We are in the process of developing a high throughput sequencing system that directly links fluorescent measurements to a sample database that computes molarity from the stored fragment sizes. We have selected GENios for this project based on our practical experience of its capabilities for measurements with DNA probes such as the commercially available PicoGreen™ reagent. “
Molecular biology laboratories, research institutes, reference laboratories, diagnostic laboratories and hospitals all stand to benefit from this competitively priced detection device. GENios is the instrument of choice for molecular biology researchers who require high performance, throughput and flexibility for a wide range of applications in the Life Science laboratory.

Tecan (www.tecan.com) is a leading player in the fast growing Life Sciences supply industry that specializes in the development, production, and distribution of solutions enabling the discovery of pharmaceutical substances, as well as for genomics, proteomics, and diagnostics. Tecan clients are leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, university research departments and diagnostic laboratories. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has manufacturing, research and development sites in both North America and Europe and maintains a sales and service network in 52 countries. In 2001, Tecan achieved sales of CH 361.9 million (USD 214.1 million; EUR 239.6 million). Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the Swiss SWX stock exchange (TK: TECN / Reuters: TECZn.S / Valor : 1210019). 

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