Method and system for identifying commercially distributed organisms

Abstract

A method of marking individuals of commercially distributed organism or organisms and offspring thereof is disclosed. The method is effected by genetically marking a plurality of individuals of the organism or organisms with a plurality of unique DNA sequences, each of the unique DNA sequences includes a variable region, so as to produce artificial, inherited and detectable genetic variability among the plurality of individuals of the commercially distributed organism or organisms.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of marking individuals of commercially distributed organism or organisms and offspring thereof, the method comprising the step of genetically marking a plurality of individuals of the organism or organisms with a plurality of unique DNA sequences, each of said unique DNA sequences includes a variable region selected so as to produce artificial, inherited and detectable genetic variability among said plurality of individuals of the commercially distributed organism or organisms.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said unique DNA sequences further includes a pair of universal regions one on each side of said variable region.  
     
     
         3 . A method of identifying individuals belonging to a commercially distributed organism, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) genetically marking a plurality of individuals of the organism with a plurality of unique DNA sequences, each of said unique DNA sequences includes at least one variable region;    (b) providing a database server including a lookup table associating each of said plurality of individuals with one of said plurality of unique DNA sequences; and    (c) identifying whether an examined individual of said organism being one of said plurality of individuals or offspring thereof, and if so, which of said plurality of individuals or offspring thereof, by: 
 (i) determining a presence or absence, and if present, a nucleotide sequence of a unique DNA sequence of said plurality of unique DNA sequences by which said examined individual being genetically marked; and  
 (ii) identifying said examined individual by associating said nucleotide sequence to one of said plurality of individuals via said lookup table of said database server.  
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of said unique DNA sequences further includes a pair of universal regions, one on each side of said variable region.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said nucleotide sequence of said unique DNA sequence of said plurality of unique DNA sequences by which said examined individual being genetically marked, is effected by a nucleic acid microarray hybridization technique.  
     
     
         6 . An organism having a genome, said organism being genetically marked by: 
 (a) at least one unique DNA sequence which is known in public; and    (b) at least one unique DNA sequence that is unknown, at least not as a genetic mark, in public.    
     
     
         7 . A system for Assigning DNA sequences to serve as genetic markers of commercially distributed organisms, the system comprising a database server being designed and constructed for managing a sequences database and serving for: 
 (a) assigning at least one sequence of said sequences to an assignee upon request; and    (b) book-keeping data pertaining to step (a).    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said request is effected via a communications network.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said communications network is the Internet.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said data pertaining to step (a) includes an identity of said assignee.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said data pertaining to step (a) includes an identity of an organism.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said database server further serves for debiting said assignee.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each of said sequences includes a variable region.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each of said sequences includes a pair of universal regions, one on each side of said variable region.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said database server further serves for receiving a sequence input from a user.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said database server further serves for receiving a sequence input from a user and comparing said sequence input to said sequences database.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said database server further serves for: 
 (i) receiving a sequence input from a user and comparing said sequence input to sequences of said sequences database which have already been assigned; and, if no matching sequence is found    (ii) identifying said user as an assignee of said sequence input.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a DNA synthesizer being in data communication with said database server, said DNA synthesizer serving for automatically synthesizing assigned sequences.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said database server includes an application selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) determining sequence identity;    (ii) determining sequence homology and degree thereof;    (iii) generating artificial sequences;    (iv) combining sequences of different origins;    (v) generating random sequences;    (vi) evaluating a coding potential of a sequence; and    (vii) scoring a coding potential of a sequence.    
     
     
         20 . A method assigning DNA sequences to serve as genetic markers of commercially distributed organisms, the method is effected by a data processor operatively communicating with a sequences data base and comprising the steps of: 
 (a) assigning at least one sequence of said sequences to an assignee upon request; and    (b) book-keeping data pertaining to step (a).    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said request is effected via a communications network.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said communications network is the Internet.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said data pertaining to step (a) includes an identity of said assignee.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said data pertaining to step (a) includes an identity of an organism.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of debiting said assignee.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein each of said sequences includes a variable region.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein each of said sequences includes a pair of universal regions, one on each side of said variable region.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of: 
 (c) receiving a sequence input from a user and comparing said sequence input to sequences of said sequences database which have already been assigned; and, if no matching sequence is found    (d) identifying said user as an assignee of said sequence input.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of communicating assigned sequences to a DNA synthesizer.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said data processor operates an application selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) determining sequence identity;    (ii) determining sequence homology and degree thereof;    (iii) generating artificial sequences;    (iv) combining sequences of different origins;    (v) generating random sequences;    (vi) evaluating a coding potential of a sequence; and    (vii) scoring a coding potential of a sequence.    
     
     
         31 . A kit for marking individuals of commercially distributed organism or organisms and offspring thereof, the kit comprising a plurality of containers each containing a DNA molecule having a unique variable region being flanked by a pair of universal regions, said unique variable region being selected so as to produce artificial, inherited and detectable genetic variability among the individuals of commercially distributed organism or organisms and offspring thereof.  
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 31 , further comprising at least one amplification primer being hybridizable to said universal regions, so as to enable amplification of said unique variable region of said DNA molecule.  
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 31 , wherein said DNA molecule forms a part of a vector.  
     
     
         34 . A nucleic acid microarray for determining an identity of an organism, the nucleic acid microarray comprising a solid support and a plurality of single stranded polynucleotides, each of a predetermined base sequence, being attached to said solid support at a predetermined location, said predetermined base sequence of said plurality of single stranded polynucleotides being designed for hybridizing with a plurality of variable sequences of genetic marks, such that a hybridization pattern with each of said variable sequences of said genetic marks is indicative of an identity of the genetic mark.