Tools and technologies

The Metabolomics Centre of Excellence

The Metabolomics Centre of Excellence is located on the Grasslands campus.

We apply cutting edge technology to improve the understanding of life processes at the molecular (metabolite) level.

Our technology aids in the development of improved plant cultivars and livestock breeds and the understanding of plant/ microbe/ animal interactions and the diseases of both humans and animals.

Our mission is to gain an advantage for New Zealand’s industry, academia, and society.

We provide state of the art sample handling, analytical techniques and instrumentation, data processing and data interpretation.

Our aim is to provide a fast, reliable and cost effective service for our partners.

Find out more on the Metabolomics Centre of Excellence website.

What is Metabolomics?

Definition

The comprehensive identification and quantification of all metabolites and their relationships in a biological sample. As a functional genomics tool, metabolomics provides information about the ultimate biochemical outcome of changes in the genome, transcriptome, and proteome.

Genomics

Provides information about all genes present in an individual (genotype) and about differences between genotypes. To become effective, genes have to be expressed by transcription into RNA.

Transcriptomics

Provides information about the expression of genes and how their expression is affected by genotype, environment, and disease. To become effective, RNA has to be translated into proteins.

Proteomics

Provides information about the expression and activity of proteins in an organism and how they are affected by genotype, environment, and disease. Expressed proteins are often either enzymes of biochemical pathways or regulators of those, and need to be active to be effective.

Metabolomics

This is where the biochemistry occurs. The presence, absence and flux of the small molecules are the processes of life.