NHGRI and UC Davis to Conduct Large Scale SNP Discovery in Drosophila melanogaster Using Affymetrix Arrays
March 31 2004 - 5:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
NHGRI and UC Davis to Conduct Large Scale SNP Discovery in
Drosophila melanogaster Using Affymetrix Arrays Research
Collaboration Using Custom GeneChip(R) Arrays Provides Rapid,
Accurate, and Cost-Efficient Solution for Resequencing and SNP
Discovery SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Affymetrix, Inc., announced today that the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) has
awarded $4.9 million to a multi-center research collaboration to
resequence portions of the genomes of 50 Drosophila melanogaster
strains using novel GeneChip(R) CustomSeq(TM) arrays. The research
group is led by Dr. Charles Langley, Professor of Genetics at
University of California, Davis, and includes scientists from UC
Davis, Johns Hopkins University, Children's Hospital Oakland
Research Institute, Emory University, and Affymetrix. (For an
interactive version of this press release with additional
information, please go to
http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=AFFX&script=400
and click on the release title) "Using Affymetrix arrays we will
generate the large volumes of quality genetic data needed to
develop new methods and concepts in population genomics," said Dr.
Langley. "These tools are necessary for relating how genetic
variation contributes to human disease and risk, and will help to
discover general principles of genomic variation." This study will
use next-generation CustomSeq resequencing arrays to catalogue
genetic variations across 2 large regions of the Drosophila genome
and to develop methods to analyze the resulting large-scale genetic
variation data. These next-generation arrays, which will allow
researchers to resequence up to 300,000 base pairs per array, are
being made available for this project under an early technology
access program. Affymetrix plans to broadly commercialize the new
formats under the CustomSeq custom resequencing program. "CustomSeq
resequencing arrays will establish a sustainable high quality
resequencing capacity at UC Davis," said Dr. Janet A. Warrington,
Vice President of Clinical and Applied Genomics, Research and
Development at Affymetrix. "The quick and cost-effective nature of
array-based assays have now made genome resequencing an affordable
method for collecting the magnitude of data required to fully
address many of the fundamental challenges facing researchers
working to decipher the many molecular elements underlying complex
disease." High-density CustomSeq arrays provide researchers with an
accessible solution for genome-scale sequence analysis. Compared to
other sequencing technologies, the Drosophila resequencing array
has a smaller physical footprint, requires fewer personnel
resources and will provide sequence for nearly half a billion bases
at ~1/3 the expense with no loss in data quality. Data from the
Drosophila resequencing project will be made publicly available as
it is generated, so that it can be analyzed and used by the
worldwide Drosophila research community. Furthermore, as part of
the agreement with Affymetrix, all software developed for this
project will be open-source, allowing researchers to further
develop data analysis algorithms and improved results. Using
GeneChip array technology to rapidly resequence whole genomes,
scientists can catalogue comprehensive genetic variation from any
organism, including humans. The data analysis methods developed as
a result of this Drosophila resequencing project will serve as a
model for conducting population association studies, including
human studies elucidating the functions of genes and their variants
in health and disease. About Affymetrix: Affymetrix is a pioneer in
creating breakthrough tools that are driving the genomicrevolution.
By applying the principles of semiconductor technology to the life
sciences, Affymetrix develops and commercializes systems that
enable scientists to improve quality of life. The Company's
customers include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrichemical,
diagnostics and consumer products companies as well as academic,
government and other non- profit research institutes. Affymetrix
offers an expanding portfolio of integrated products and services,
including its integrated GeneChip brand platform, to address
growing markets focused on understanding the relationship between
genes and human health. Additional information on Affymetrix can be
found at http://www.affymetrix.com/. All statements in this press
release that are not historicalare "forward- looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act as
amended, including statements regarding Affymetrix' "expectations,"
"beliefs," "hopes," "intentions," "strategies" or the like. Such
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially for Affymetrix from those
projected, including, but not limited to risks of the Company's
ability to achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher
gross margins, reduced operating expenses, uncertainties relating
to technological approaches, manufacturing, product development,
market acceptance (including uncertainties relating to product
development, use and market acceptance of the GeneChip(R)
CustomSeq(TM) Resequencing Arrays), personnel retention,
uncertainties related to cost and pricing of Affymetrix products,
dependence on collaborative partners, uncertainties relating to
sole source suppliers, uncertainties relating to FDA and other
regulatory approvals, competition, risks relating to intellectual
property of others and the uncertainties of patent protection and
litigation. These and other risk factors are discussed in
Affymetrix' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for
subsequent quarterly periods. Affymetrix expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or
revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect any change in Affymetrix' expectations with regard thereto
or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any
such statements are based. NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo,
and GeneChip are registered trademarks owned or used by Affymetrix,
Inc. DATASOURCE: Affymetrix, Inc. CONTACT: media, Wes Conard,
Associate Director, Public Relations, +1-408-731-5791, or
investors, Doug Farrell, Vice President, Investor Relations,
+1-408-731-5285, both of Affymetrix, Inc. Web site:
http://www.affymetrix.com/
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