Key Takeaways
- Twist Bioscience and Curio Genomics have partnered to offer an integrated NGS workflow solution for agrigenomics.
- The solution combines Twist’s FlexPrep™ UHT Library Prep Kit with Curio’s bioinformatics platform.
- The collaboration aims to address barriers to NGS adoption, including cost, familiarity, and data integration with legacy microarray systems.
- FlexPrep supports scalable low-pass whole genome sequencing, while CURIO enables rapid data analysis and compatibility with historical datasets.
- The end-to-end solution is designed to be species-agnostic and applicable across a range of agricultural research settings.
Twist Bioscience and Curio Genomics Collaborate on Agrigenomics Workflow Integration
Twist Bioscience & Curio Genomics: Offering an End-to-End NGS Solution for Agriculture Research
Twist Bioscience Corporation (NASDAQ: TWST), a life sciences company focused on DNA synthesis and genomic tools, and Curio Genomics, a developer of scalable bioinformatics software, have announced a collaboration aimed at facilitating the transition from microarrays to next-generation sequencing (NGS) in agricultural genomics.
The partnership will combine Twist’s FlexPrep™ Ultra-High Throughput (UHT) Library Preparation Kit with Curio’s CURIO™ bioinformatics platform. Together, the technologies are intended to simplify the adoption of NGS in agrigenomics by providing a unified workflow—from sample preparation to data analysis.
“Our FlexPrep UHT Library Prep Kit eliminates many of the traditional barriers that have slowed NGS adoption in agrigenomics,” said Emily M. Leproust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. “By collaborating with Curio, we’re making high-throughput genotyping more accessible and efficient.”
Addressing Barriers to NGS in Agrigenomics
Bridging the Gap Between Microarray Familiarity and NGS Capabilities
NGS workflows offer greater flexibility and deeper genomic insight compared to traditional microarrays, but their uptake in agrigenomics has been limited due to cost and legacy system familiarity. The new offering from Twist and Curio aims to address these challenges with a system that is both scalable and user-friendly.
Twist Bioscience’s FlexPrep UHT Kit supports large-scale genotyping applications, capable of processing thousands of samples efficiently. It enables researchers to generate high-complexity libraries suitable for low-pass whole genome sequencing, expanding insight beyond simple SNP detection.
CURIO Platform Enables Fast, Cross-Compatible Data Analysis
Bioinformatics Engine Built for Scale and Flexibility
The CURIO software platform developed by Curio Genomics provides a range of genomic data analysis tools, including genotyping, marker discovery, and fine mapping, all within an intuitive user interface. Its architecture is designed for rapid analysis, allowing researchers to interpret NGS results alongside existing microarray data.
“With our CURIO platform, we can provide researchers with a scalable, approachable way to analyze their data across species type and depth of coverage,” said Shawn Quinn, CTO and co-founder of Curio Genomics.
This compatibility is intended to help users retain value from previous datasets while adopting newer sequencing technologies—enabling a gradual, data-integrated transition from microarrays to NGS.
Twist Bioscience Technology Applied Across Species and Research Goals
Versatility for Diverse Agrigenomics Use Cases
The integrated solution is species-agnostic, designed for application across a wide range of animal and plant species in agricultural research. By combining Twist’s library prep technology with Curio’s analytics, the platform supports end-to-end agrigenomics workflows from sample processing to data interpretation.
Twist Bioscience and Curio aim to support both public and private sector researchers looking to enhance genomic insight in breeding, trait discovery, and genetic selection programs.
“This streamlined offering will facilitate a shift from microarray to next-generation sequencing,” added Leproust.
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