The Biomolecular Technology Group at DMU has a strong track record of successful industry engagement and research contracts with private citizens and businesses located in the UK and abroad.
Our aim is to develop bespoke problem-solving tools for the industry, and we welcome collaboration with a range of industrial partners.
Current projects include developing methods for the detection and quantification of adulterants for industrial quality assurance, and for the identification of toxic plant species for consumer protection. The group also has an interest in the application of these technologies to ethnobotanical studies. Verifying DNA add value to products put into the market through the genetic analysis of their origin and composition working as intrinsic quality control.
We provide services in the following areas:
- Identification of species (plants, fungi, truffles, bryophytes) through DNA e.g. check the purity of spices or the possible presence of undesirable plants in a herb mixture (tea and infusions)
- DNA Barcoding (Plant DNA extraction and purity confirmation, PCR of DNA barcode regions, DNA sequencing and computer analysis)
- Testing of processed products (DNA barcoding authentication tests for herbal products, PCR tests for degraded DNA fragments, quantification of adulterants)
- PCR testing of herbal drugs for industrial quality control (PCR tests that target individual differences in DNA barcode sequences, DNA tests to confirm the identity of wild plants, Tests to identify suspected adulterant species including multiple species in complex mixtures, Quantitative measurements of the amounts of target DNA using qPCR)
- Scientific advice and research and development
- Characterization of botanical ingredients and extracts. This can be achieved through botanical authentication and/or chemical analyses by HPLC, or LC-MS, and NMR.
For more information about our services or for a free quote please, get in touch.