The emphasis  of the Core Facility Genomics lies on  the versatile analysis of the transcriptome and genome of different species. The aim of the core facility genomics is to enable a primary data ascertainment which generates comparable data of international standard on  the one hand and on the other hand guarantees the variety of the needed analyses within the field of  high-throughput  data ascertainment. At the moment we provide services based on two different platforms.

The first platform is based on self-spotted cDNA chips consisting of more than 38000 human cDNA clones (Human Unigene Set – RZPD 3.1 / RZPD-Nr.983) and more than 22000 murine cDNA clones (NIA 15K mouse cDNA Clone Set; NIA 7.4k Mouse cDNA Clone Set) for the determination of the expression profile. Furthermore we are able to print customized oligo-based or cDNA-based chips.

The second platform is based on the system of the company Agilent (DNA Microarray Scanner + Microarrays). This platform enables us to perform expression analyses  for all known and partially known  transcriptomes. Additionally to the already mentioned possibilities the Agilent platform allows the examination of microRNAs, Oligo aCGH analyses, Chip-on-chip analyses, the determination of the DNA methylation pattern and the analysis of splice variants in different species.   

The third platform is based on the iScan system (BeadStation) of the company Illumina. As genetically determined diseases are based on different changes of the DNA sequence (e.g. SNPs) the analysis of these changes is an important basis for a better understanding of complex traits respectively complex phenotypes. Based on the iScan platform we can perform whole genome association studies (tag SNP arrays) as well as flexible custom genotyping .

The third platform is based on the Genome Analyzer IIx system (GAIIx) of the company Illumina. As a focus of today's human genome research is the analysis of the inter-individual variability of the human genome you have to make sure that all existing changes are characterised thus it is very important not to rely on closed systems as for example microarrays. The GAIIx system is an open system and allows to perform whole genome re-sequencing studies (Second Generation Sequencing; Deep Sequencing).

In  addition to the before mentioned possibilities we offer the complete processing of  the samples (DNA, RNA), starting with  the quality check, the hybridization of the samples on the arrays, the raw data analyses and the subsequent statistical analysis by using complex evaluation programs. The evaluation is carried out based on the software of the company Genedata (Expressionist; Phylosopher), on the software of the company Agilent (GeneSpring; chIP analytics; CGH analytics) or on the software of the company Illumina (Genome Analyzer Sequencing Control Software, GENOME ANALYZER PIPELINE, Casava, Genome Studio).

In close collaboration with work groups from the biology and medicine we also develop individual approaches to answer current questions in many areas of research.