Keygene N.V. has developed a new mutation screening technology applicable for efficient screening of mutant populations (e.g. EMS populations used for Tilling) and to reveal natural variation. The KeyPoint™ technology is based on the combination of a DNA pooling strategy with high throughput sequencing power such as the Roche/454 Life Sciences Genome Sequencer System (GS system).

Compared with currently available mutant screening technologies KeyPoint provides additional speed and accuracy in pointing the exact location of multiple mutations present in multiple genes in a mutant population in one sequence run. In addition, the technology directly provides the sequence information required to establish the nature of the identified mutations (frame shift, stop codon, amino acid change or nonsense mutation).

The KeyPointTM technology will be presented to the genomics community by Keygene N.V. (Dr. Michiel van Eijk) at the Plant & Animal Genome conference in San Diego (January 13-17, 2007).

Keygene will offer the KeyPoint technology to its customers through a service program.

"Our KeyPoint technology overcomes limitations of current (pre-) screening technologies and is applicable in any species for which mutant populations are available", says Michiel van Eijk, manager Upstream Research of Keygene. "The technology offers a fast and direct track to identify mutations to be directly used for commercial applications in breeding programs".

Keygene N.V. is an internationally operating R&D company with the mission to be the leading company in developing and applying DNA expertise in the field of molecular genetics for its shareholder breeding companies. Keygene has developed a strong proprietary technology platform based on AFLP®, SNPWaveTM and CRoPSTM. Keygene exploits its proprietary technologies, databases and know-how through contract research and products for applications in the Life Sciences. Keygene has five shareholders consisting of major vegetable seed companies: De Ruiter Seeds, ENZA Zaden, Rijk Zwaan, Vilmorin & Cie and Takii & Co. Keygene has around 100 researchers and staff.

The AFLP®, SNPWave™, CRoPS™ and KeyPoint™ technologies are covered by patents and/or patent applications of Keygene N.V. AFLP is a registered trademark of Keygene N.V. Applications for trademark registration for CRoPS, SNPWave and KeyPoint have been filed by Keygene N.V.