Applied molecular biology
CSL is at the forefront of developing diagnostic methods and putting them into practice in a diverse range of applications. With an international reputation for the detection of plant diseases, CSL's expertise in molecular biology is increasingly in demand more generally - providing a practical solution in situations ranging from health checks on imported goods, confirmation of food authenticity, and detecting tuberculosis in badgers.
Horticulturalists, operating in a global market, need to be able to identify pests and diseases before they cross our borders; consumers increasingly demand reassurance of the origin and content of their food; healthcare professionals require methods of disease detection that can counter rapidly spreading infections
Until recently, testing for diseases in plants, food and animals involved lengthy, laborious processes carried out by specialists in laboratories. Thanks to the ground-breaking work carried out at CSL this is no longer the case. A range of innovative technologies have been pioneered that address the demands of industry, consumers and governmental organisations for prompt and practical methods of biological diagnostics and detection.
Our expertise is in applying the techniques of real-time PCR, portable PCR, mirco-arrays and DNA sequencing to detection and identification of biological materials such as contaminants, pathogens and bio-hazards.