Biotechnology

Scientists at the Matís Biological Division, have long experience in developing products for the food industry, as well as in the field of pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare products. The foundation of the department is the work conducted for many years by the biotechnology company Prokaria, which is a leader in DNA isolation from difficult samples as well as in sequence-based discovery and screening of natural diversity from extreme environments.

The main research areas are:

1. Genetics, farming and environment

• Genotyping of broodstock animals (parental assignment) ex. Salmon, cod, trout, halibut, horses, sheep

• Genotyping of wild populations (population studies, stock assignment, tracing of origin) ex. Wild salmon in Icelandic rivers, cod, redfish, minke whale, fin whale, clown fish
• Tracing of origin. Ongoing research projects with the goal of tracing individuals to origin (various fish and land animals)
• Species identification of marine animals

2. Microorganisms in biotechnology and in extreme environments

• Extreme microorganisms in environment (microbial monitoring and environmental assessment)
• Microbial biotechnology. Isolation of new species, screening for novel microorganisms and enzymes

3. Enzymes and recombinant technology

• Enzymes from extreme environments in Icelandic nature (increasing value and quality of food products with biotechnology
• Sugar modifying enzymes and oligo- and polysaccaride derived products (chitine, algal polysaccarides, cartilage sugars)

4. Biotechnology products

• Bioactive compounds (isolate and characterise compounds with in vitro activity and in vivo activity)

• Bioactive compounds (isolate and characterise compounds with in vitro activity and in vivo activity)
• Isolation and characterisation of natural antioxidants for increasing stability of food products containing omega-3 fatty acids

Matís