News & blog archive
December 2023
Xelect appoints Dr Marie Smedley as Head of Breeding Programmes
After a period of significant growth, aquaculture genetics specialist Xelect has recently announced the appointment of...
July 2023
Meet the team at Aquanor
We’ll be attending Aquanor in Trondheim, 22-24 August. Come along and see us at stand D-324!...
June 2023
A decade of delivering for our customers – Xelect celebrates 10th Birthday
This year Xelect has reached a major milestone, celebrating 10 years of supporting the aquaculture industry...
May 2023
Xelect receives UK Government award for export success
We’re pleased to announce that Xelect has been recognised in the inaugural “Made in the UK,...
November 2022
Xelect on the road: Spain, Singapore & Chile,
We’re delighted to be back out on the road visiting our customers and meeting new contacts....
November 2022
Dr Rachael Wilbourn – Top 10 Under 40 Winner
Last week we received the welcome news that Rachael, our Head of Laboratory, was selected as...
August 2022
Kames and Xelect announce strategic genetics partnership
For 50 years Kames Fish Farming have grown premium Steelhead trout in the pristine, idyllic sea...
February 2022
Xelect and Australis trial showcases targeted improvements in feed efficiency with genetics
For the vast majority of aquaculture producers, feed is typically the largest single expense – often...
February 2022
Welcome: Dr Max Coulter
As Xelect continues to grow we’re delighted to announce that Dr Max Coulter has joined us...
December 2021
The latest from the Lab: doubling our genotyping capacity
There’s never a quiet day in our laboratory, with samples arriving every day from customers all...
November 2021
Pioneering Partnership between Martec and Xelect
First commercial Spotted Rose Snapper genetic programme now underway Martec (a leading player in Central American...
November 2021
Xelect, De Heus and Fresh Studio announce partnership for sustainable aquaculture in Myanmar
Xelect is delighted to be working with Fresh Studio and De Heus in Myanmar as the...
September 2021
Welcome: Dr Pauline Van Weymers
We are delighted to welcome our newest team member, Dr Pauline Van Weymers, to our genetics...
June 2021
Partnership between Xelect and Orkney Shellfish Hatchery leads to innovative DNA test for Bonamia
A partnership between two of the most progressive aquaculture companies in Scotland has borne fruit with...
March 2021
Welcoming our latest Breeding Programme Manager – Lidia de los Ríos Pérez
Despite a disrupted year, we’re delighted to announce that Xelect’s team of experts continues to grow,...
January 2021
Looking back, thinking ahead
2020 has been a memorable year for many of the wrong reasons. But we believe the...
January 2021
Our growing team: Dr Carlos Diaz Gil
We’ve been delighted to continue to grow our expert team this year, and we’ve recently welcomed...
January 2021
Genetics: a secret weapon against sea lice
Dr Marie Smedley explores how genetics is an undervalued resource in the fight against common parasites.
January 2021
FirstWave Group and Xelect announce new strategic partnership
This week we’ve announced our new long-term partnership with FirstWave Group – Africa’s largest tilapia fish...
November 2020
Xelect collaboration reveals even greater potential for natural genetic variation to boost aquaculture
For decades we’ve known that well designed genetic selection programmes can result in major gains in...
October 2020
Case Study: 10,000 miles apart. 1 goal.
Dr Marie Smedley, Senior Breeding Programme Manager. In December 2019 two journeys began. The first started...
September 2020
Meet the team: Dr Stelios Kyriakidis, Bioinformatician
As a child growing up in Greece I was always fascinated by computers and engineering. However, my first dream job was to become...
July 2020
My first month: What’s it like to join the Xelect team?
By Dr Paolo Ruggeri, Scientific Officer. It’s already been a month since I started my new...
July 2020
A day in the life of a Senior Breeding Programme Manager
By Dr. José Mota Velasco. Every day is very varied as a Breeding Programme Manager at...
July 2020
[CLOSED] New vacancies in our aquaculture Breeding Programme management team
Xelect is growing – again! We’re delighted to announce two new vacancies in our expanding Breeding...
June 2020
Xelect Introducers – Our new partnerships programme
We’ve expanded significantly recently, and are scaling up our business inresponse to increasing demand for genetic...
June 2020
Xelect announce new partnership in Kenya: Unlocking the genetic potential of tilapia
We’re delighted to announce a genetic analysis project supported by Msingi East Africa. This project helps...
June 2020
Genetics and RAS: does the new frontier in global aquaculture require a fresh approach to selective breeding?
by Operations Director Dr Tom Ashton One of my first experiences of working in the aquaculture...
May 2020
Xelect welcomes new talent in the lab
We are pleased to announce the appointment of experienced geneticist Dr Paolo Ruggeri who will be...
May 2020
COVID-19 and the ‘new normal’
For every business, COVID-19 has meant a lot of changes. But in some cases they’ve been...
April 2020
Genetics in a nutshell
Genetic breeding programmes may sound complicated and expensive, but Xelect make them straightforward and affordable. If...
April 2020
Seafood Source interview: Now Xelect is making advanced genetic services available to the many, not just the few
A couple of weeks ago our CEO Prof Ian Johnston was interviewed by Seafood Source on...
March 2020
Coping with COVID-19
Whilst there is absolutely no doubt that COVID-19 is causing significant disruption, the good news is...
March 2020
What can Aquaculture teach us about COVID-19?
Catastrophic diseases wiping out millions of dollars in profit in a matter of days? That’s nothing...
March 2020
International Women’s Day 2020 – Celebrating Women in Aquaculture
To mark International Women’s Day Dr Marie Smedley (one of Xelect’s Senior Breeding Programme Managers) presented...
February 2020
AquaFarm 2020
Marie and Chris are just back from a successful couple of days at AquaFarm 2020 in...
February 2020
Top geneticist joins the team
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Mark Looseley as our new Senior Geneticist.
February 2020
Scanning the Horizon: 3D laser scanning a step closer
Xelect’s ambitious plans to create a groundbreaking new scanner took a big step forward this week...
January 2020
A New Wave of Talent: Promoting careers in Aquaculture
Xelect Senior Breeding Programme Manager Marie features in a new set of films intended to encourage...
August 2019
Xelect at AquaNor 2019
Xelect will be presenting a stand at the aquaculture trade show, AquaNor, held in Trondheim. The...
March 2018
Press Release – Cromaris and Xelect agree genetic service contract
March 2018 – Cromaris, the leading Croatian bass and bream producer, has chosen Scotland’s Xelect Ltd as...
June 2017
Aberdeen Intern Makes Great Progress
Alicia Bertolotti has spent the last 3 months performing an internship placement at Xelect in St...
November 2016
Press Release – New Zealand King Salmon And Xelect Agree 4 Year Breeding Program Management Contract.
New Zealand King Salmon, the producers of the internationally renowned Ōra King breed have chosen Scotland’s...
November 2016
Expert Genomic Consultant Joins Our Team
We are delighted announce the appointment of Dr Chris Hollenbeck as a specialist consultant in fish...
August 2016
Press Release – Cermaq
Xelect is delighted to announce a licence and genetic services agreement with Atlantic salmon producer Cermaq...
March 2016
Press Release – Xelect Secure Investment For Growth
Xelect limited and the EOS Technology Investment Syndicate are pleased to announce the completion of an...
March 2016
Xelect Win Most Enterprising Start-Up Award
Xelect were proud winners of the Most Enterprising Start-up Company at the recent Fife Business awards,...
August 2015
Aquanor 2015
We had a busy and productive visit to Trondheim, Norway, for AquaNor 2015, where we hosted...
June 2015
Press Release – High Yield Tilapia Coming To The Fillet Market
GenoMar, the world’s premier tilapia breeding company today announces a partnership with Xelect Ltd., a global...
May 2015
Press Release – Aquaculture Industry Receives New Impulse From Horizon 2020 Programme
Aquaculture Industry Receives New Impulse from Horizon 2020 Programme On 1 June 2015 a new Horizon...
May 2015
eDNA Assay For Invasive Sea-Squirt
We now offer validated eDNA detection for the invasive carpet sea-squirt, Didemnum vexillum. This species poses...
December 2014
Xelect To Co-Fund Phd Studentship At Aberdeen
Xelect will be the industrial sponsor of an exciting PhD studentship in the research group of...
December 2014
Download Atlantic Salmon Markers Brochure
We are very pleased to announce that we have expanded our range of broodstock selection markers...
October 2014
Brown Trout Genetic Relatedness – New Service
We have now added brown trout, Salmo trutta, to our range of genetic relatedness and parentage...
October 2014
Xelect Assist Dawnfresh With Texture Analysis
Xelect are providing assistance and training in the establishment of a new texture monitoring facility at...
May 2014
Xelect At Aquaculture Uk
We had a busy and productive couple of days at Aviemore. It was good to meet...
May 2014
Xelect Awarded Smart:Scotland Funding
February 2014 Scottish Enterprise have awarded Xelect Ltd a SMART: SCOTLAND grant to develop genetic tests...
November 2013
Texture Analysis Service
We are pleased to announce a new texture analysis service for salmon and trout. Precise firmness...
May 2013
Xelect Awarded Tsb Funding
Xelect has been awarded funding. Xelect has been awarded funding from the Technology Strategy Board as...
May 2013
Triploidy Analysis Service Launched
We are pleased to announce that we are now offering a rapid and cost-effective flow cytometry...
February 2013
Salmobreed License High Yield Markers
Salmobreed licenses Markers Salmobreed has licensed Xelect’s High Fillet Yield (HFY-1) markers for exclusive use in...