HUDSON, NEW YORK, SEPT. 7th, 2006 – Taconic Farms, Inc. announced that it has signed a distributor agreement with TransnetYX to deliver a new mouse genotyping service that reduces costs, speeds turnaround, and ensures accurate results for biomedical researchers using genetically modified mice.

Through its distributor agreement with TransnetYX, a leader in high throughput molecular analysis, Taconic will offer researchers in North America and Europe fast, cost-effective genotyping of transgenic, knock-out and knock-in mutant mice.  TransnetYX’s proprietary technologies for automated genetic testing and Internet biopsy submission and results reporting speeds the process, while ensuring high quality and accuracy of test results. The use of automated quantitative real-time PCR for many assays combined with duplicate sample testing means researchers are assured the highest degree of accuracy.

"Taconic’s association with TransnetYX is evidence of our strong commitment to providing the research community with convenient, low-cost access to the genetically modified models and lab services that research projects now demand,” said Samuel Phelan, President of Taconic.

The use of TransnetYX technology makes mouse genotyping available at prices up to 50% lower than traditional gel-based PCR.  When testing of multiple alleles is needed, as in the case of transgenic lines carrying more than one knock-out mutation, costs can be reduced by as much as 75% vs. traditional testing.

Taconic will now offer researchers the choice of a 24-hour or 72-hour turnaround on mouse genotyping results.  Faster turnaround reduces researchers’ per diem costs by enabling them to identify mice with useful genotypes more quickly.  The secure TransnetYX Web site enables researchers to easily submit samples, track orders and obtain results online, for greater speed and convenience. 

About Taconic
Taconic Farms, Inc. was founded in 1952 as a family-owned business in New York’s Hudson River Valley.  Since then, the company has become one of the largest laboratory rodent providers in the world with a reputation for consistently producing high quality, well-defined rats and mice.  Taconic’s expertise in breeding, barrier systems, genetics and animal health supports researchers focused on drug development using in vivo models.  Taconic has six breeding facilities and three service laboratories in the USA and Europe, a staff of over 800, and a commitment to technological innovation.  Additional information about Taconic is available through its corporate website, www.taconic.com.

About TransnetYX
Founded in 2000, Memphis-based TransnetYX is a molecular diagnostics company dedicated to serving research and saving time by removing redundant yet necessary tests conducted in genetics. TransnetYX serves biotech and medical researchers working with transgenic, knock-out/knock-in, transgenic with knock-out, or targeted mutagenesis mouse lines. In addition to in-depth sequence identification, the system can also provide positive/negative information on the zygosity of submitted samples.  For more information, visit www.transnetyx.com.