Applied DNA Sciences Secures New Patent for Cotton Genotyping and Traceability
Applied DNA Sciences, headquartered in Stony Brook, New York, has recently been awarded a pivotal U.S. patent aimed at bolstering its portfolio in cotton genotyping and traceability.
The newly acquired patent safeguards the company’s exclusive methodologies for identifying cotton species present in manufactured products. This is achieved through the extraction and analytical assessment of target sequences from the plant’s DNA.
Dr. James Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA, remarked, “The approval of this patent application fortifies our capability to examine the chloroplast DNA of cotton fibers, thereby establishing a formidable patent position within the cotton genotyping arena.
Our fiberTyping technology, in conjunction with our patented SigNature T molecular tags, creates an unparalleled system for validating claims related to cotton content.
No other system can offer the same level of immutable forensic identity and traceability assurance that our technology does.”
SigNature DNA forms the cornerstone of a suite of security and authentication solutions—such as SigNatureT and fiberTyping—tailored for the textiles and apparel sectors.
Additional offerings include BackTrac, DNAnet, and SmartDNA technologies aimed at anti-theft and loss prevention, alongside digitalDNA, which provides essential track-and-trace functionalities. Each solution ensures a forensic chain of evidence capable of holding accountable those who misrepresent fiber authenticity.
Hayward further commented on the recent initiation of the company’s GeoTyping technology, asserting that Applied DNA is “continuing to push the frontiers of cotton genotyping science.”
Last month, Applied DNA unveiled a beta program for GeoTyping, aimed at brands and retailers keen on determining the country-of-origin in instances of cotton fiber substitution.
This program utilizes an established library of biomarkers that define the DNA fingerprint of cotton cultivars, encompassing genus, species, and one of 70 distinct geographic-cultivar-dependent genotypes.
To date, Applied DNA has been awarded four U.S. patents concerning its fiber typing technology. These patents encompass the identification of cotton species within manufactured articles, utilizing both target sequence and polymorphism length analysis of chloroplast DNA.
The company plans to diligently oversee cotton imports into the U.S. that assert verification through mature cotton fiber genotyping analyses, and will take necessary action.
In its first quarter ending December 31, Applied DNA reported a 28 percent decline in revenue, amounting to $648,000, a stark contrast to $903,000 in the comparable period last year.
The company attributed this decrease to the timing of shipments and the acknowledgment of deferred revenue linked to its cotton contracts. Its net loss for the quarter stood at $3.2 million, compared to a loss of $4 million in the previous year’s quarter.
Upon releasing the financial results earlier this month, Hayward expressed, “We made significant strides in the first quarter towards executing our growth strategy, aiming to expand our business within core markets and diversify our molecular tagging technology applications into adjacent sectors. Nevertheless, our results reflect a sluggish commencement to the fiscal year.”
He maintained the base revenue guidance for the fiscal year 2018 at $6.5 million, anticipating that the majority of revenue will accrue in the third and fourth quarters, which correspond to peak cotton seasons.
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