Abstract: A sampling kit for tissue including a reaction chamber and a sampling device configured for mounting in the reaction chamber and providing a reaction volume defined between the base of the reaction chamber and the sampling device. The sampling device has a proximal handling portion and a distal scraping portion comprising a scraping formation configured to collect a sample of tissue when the distal scraping portion is rubbed against a surface of the tissue. The sampling device comprises an internal lumen configured for the supply of reaction liquid from a distal end of the tissue sampling device to the reaction volume via a distal aperture disposed in the distal scraping portion when the tissue sampling device is mounted in the reaction chamber. An automated high-throughput sampling and indexing system is also described.

Abstract: A method of preparing a library of library constructs by multiplex amplification for use in targeted next generation sequencing is described. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a reaction vessel comprising (i) a plurality of different target sequences, (ii) a plurality of target capture primer pairs, and (iii) one or more tagging primer pairs, (b) performing sequential rounds of amplification at sequential annealing temperatures configured to amplify the target sequences, generate target sequences comprising first or second read sequences, and provide a reaction product comprising library constructs in a sequential manner; and (c) capture of the library of constructs from the reaction product.

Abstract: A system for tracing members of an animal population throughout a process including moving at least some of the members between a plurality of physically separate locations, the system comprising: a plurality of identification devices, each being attached to, and uniquely identifying, a respective member of the members; a plurality of identification device readers, each capable of being located at a respective physically separate location of the physically separate locations, and each capable of reading the identification devices to uniquely identify the respective member; a data repository comprising one or more records, each of the records (i) being associated with a respective member of the members, and (ii) including a unique animal identifier associated with the identification device attached to the respective member of the members; and a processing circuitry configured to perform a process for storing location change records indicative of location changes of the members during the process.

Abstract: A system for determining insurance parameters, the system comprising: one or more monitoring devices configured to monitor parameters of members of an animal population; a data repository comprising two or more records, each (i) being associated with a respective member of the members, and (ii) including one or more monitored parameters of the respective member as monitored by at least one of the monitoring devices over time; and a processing circuitry configured to: obtain at least a subset of the records, the subset being associated with a group of given members of the members; determine one or more GHGE affecting parameters based on the subset; estimate an amount of GHGE in an environment housing the animal population utilizing the GHGE affecting parameters; and determine one or more insurance parameters, for insuring at least one animal of the animal population, based on the estimated amount.

Abstract: A system for collecting tissue samples, such as meat tissues on carcasses, for example in the food industry. Also provided are methods for collecting tissue samples, and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions to execute at least one step of the method for collecting tissue samples.

Abstract: A system for tracing members of an animal population throughout a process including moving at least some of the members between a plurality of physically separate locations, the system comprising: a plurality of identification devices, each being attached to, and uniquely identifying, a respective member of the members; a plurality of identification device readers, each capable of being located at a respective physically separate location of the physically separate locations, and each capable of reading the identification devices to uniquely identify the respective member; a data repository comprising one or more records, each of the records (i) being associated with a respective member of the members, and (ii) including a unique animal identifier associated with the identification device attached to the respective member of the members; and a processing circuitry configured to perform a process for storing location change records indicative of location changes of the members during the process.