Overview

Orion Genomics is an agricultural research company aiming to improve crops through a better understanding of the structure and function of plant genes. Its GeneThresher platform technology enables rapid discovery of genes responsible for important agronomic traits in crops such as corn, wheat and soy, by increasing the speed and efficiency of DNA sequencing of crop plants.

The company, along with SolviGen LLC, received a $7.5 million grant to improve sorghum for the production of a portfolio of bio-based products including ethanol, organic acids and other carbon molecules for industrial uses.

Partners

In May 2001, Orion and ViaLactia Biosciences Ltd. entered into a multistage genomics alliance to develop improved varieties of forage plant species for the pastoral agricultural industries, and to develop hardier and higher-yielding row crops. Financial terms of the alliance were not disclosed.

In November 1999, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, of New York, licensed to Orion a technology known as methyl filtration, designed for the sequencing of large genomes. Orion obtained exclusive, worldwide commercial rights to the technology for all fields of use.