Case Study: University of Missouri-Columbia advances feline genomics and disease discovery with Twist Bioscience custom exome sequencing

University of Missouri-Columbia identifies a half dozen new feline DNA mutations with Twist Bioscience

Twist Bioscience collaborated with researcher Dr. Leslie Lyons and her team at the University of Missouri-Columbia to overcome the challenge of limited genomic resources for non-traditional model organisms, specifically cats. The research lab needed efficient, high-quality tools for feline whole exome sequencing to identify disease-related mutations and advance precision veterinary medicine.

Using a custom exome capture panel developed with Twist Bioscience, the lab achieved superior depth of coverage and data quality compared to previous methods. This solution enabled the discovery of several new disease mutations, including for myotonia congenita and polycystic kidney disease, and facilitated a precision medicine initiative for cats worldwide. Twist Bioscience's expert support and reliable technology empowered the researchers to efficiently build critical genomic resources and make novel discoveries with implications for both feline and human health.

University of Missouri-Columbia