WoW Strong News today. DNAPrint Launches Revolutionary Pan-Genome Screening Platfor
B: DNAPrint Launches Revolutionary Pan-Genome Screening Platform Based on
Ancestral Admixture Mapping
SARASOTA, Fla., Dec 9, 2002 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- DNAPrint genomics, Inc.
(OTC Bulletin Board: DNAP) (the "Company"), unveiled a new whole-genome
screening platform (ADMIXMAP) that promises to rapidly change the landscape of
disease and drug response gene hunting. The new platform is revolutionary
because it represents the first yet developed for cost-effective whole-genome
scanning in large, heterogeneous populations. It taps into sequence differences
among the world's various continental population groups to increase the power
and efficiency of pan-genome disease gene screening.
ADMIXMAP will allow DNAPrint to identify new disease and drug response genes 10
times faster and 1,000-times less expensively than others who use existing
methods. Dr. Tony Frudakis, CEO, informally announced the introduction of
ADMIXMAP to attendees at the invitation-only IBM Life Science Solution Developer
Conference in Boca Raton, FL, and proclaimed the Company's intent to partner
collaborative services based on the platform to pharma, biotech and academia.
The development of ADMIXMAP was a culmination of years of research into
population genomics structure and human ancestry conducted with Dr. Mark Shriver
of the Pennsylvania State University. The primary focus of the work was to
create an original type of human genome map based on validated and characterized
Ancestry Informative Markers. snAIMs are Single Nucleotide Polymorphsims (SNPs)
of significant allele frequency differences between the world's various
continental population groups; prior to DNAPrint's work, such a map had not
existed. This map is combined with other compositions and new, highly
specialized analytical algorithms to constitute the ADMIXMAP platform. The
platform functions by allowing a fine appreciation of population genomics
structure relevant for solving complex human conditions, and it is based on a
process called Mapping by Admixture Linkage Disequilibrium (MALD) or Admixture
Mapping (AM).
DNA exists in a block like state, and hypothesis-free genome screens aim to
inspect each of several hundred thousand of these blocks for sequence
correlation with disease or drug response. A genome-wide study usually queries
hundreds of genomes. Because each genotype costs about $0.50 and hundreds of
thousands of genotypes need be created per genome, a typical genome study costs
several tens of millions of dollars.
On the other hand, Mapping by Admixture Linkage Disequilibrium (MALD) or
Admixture Mapping (AM) takes advantage of the fact that in recently admixed
populations (i.e. Hispanics or African Americans, among many others), the
block-like structure of DNA extends for MegaBases rather than kilobases
(Chakraborty and Weiss, 1988; Stephens et al., 1994, McKeigue 1998, McKeigue et
al., 2000). Because the DNA is made of a relatively small number of very large
blocks, pan-genome coverage can be obtained with as few as 1,500 markers at a
cost of only $1-2K per sample or a couple hundred thousand dollars per study.
MALD and AM can only be accomplished using Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs)
and to its knowledge, the Company is the only to yet mine the human genome to
produce a pan-genome map of validated snAIMs. In addition to a validated AIM
map, the MALD/AM methods also require the determination of individual ancestry
admixture proportions and DNAPrint was the first to reduce the determination of
individual admixture proportions using AIMs to commercial practice (see
www.ancestrybydna.com). As a result, DNAPrint believes it is the only company in
the world capable of practicing the MALD and AM methods.
"The single largest problem drug and diagnostics developers currently face is
the cost associated with genotyping," said Dr. Matt Thomas, DNAPrint's Chief
Molecular Biologist. "Due to this cost, most whole-genome research today is
restricted to isolated, homogeneous populations, which can limit the general
applicability of the results obtained."
"In part, the human genome was sequenced to help us get away from a restrictive
focus on homogeneous, isolated populations for drug and diagnostics design,"
said Zack Gaskin, DNAPrint's Chief Technician. "Because ADMIXMAP is the first
platform to enable cost-effective whole genome scans in heterogeneous
populations, we expect it to have a profound impact on genomics- based drug and
diagnostics design and we consider its development to represent an important
milestone in human genome research."
DNAPrint intends to partner this new platform with biotech, pharma and academia
seeking to identify new drug targets and diagnostic tests. Using this model,
partners would fund the work and the Company would retain a share of the
intellectual property produced. DNAPrint hopes to use the method with partners
to discover hundreds or even thousands of disease genes and to acquire a
significant stake in the future of genomics-based medicine. Given the magnitude
of drug and diagnostics royalties, relatively few of the discovered genes need
be developed as drug targets or diagnostic tests to render the endeavor a
success.
About DNAPrint genomics, Inc.
DNAPrint genomics Inc. is a personalized medicine company founded by a team of
scientists with research and commercial experience in high-level mathematical
modeling, programming and molecular genetics. The Company is traded on the
Nasdaq OTC Bulletin Board under the ticker symbol: DNAP. For more information
about the company, please visit www.dnaprint.com.
References contained herein:
1. Chakraborty, R. and K. Weiss. 1988. PNAS 85: 9119-9123.
2. Stephens J.C. Briscoe, D., and O'Brien, S.J. 1994. AJHG 55: 908-924.
3. McKeigue, P.M. 1998. AJHG 63:241-251.
4. McKeigue, P.M., et al., 2000. Ann. Hum. Genet. 64:171-186.
All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-
looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act as amended. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including,
but not limited to, uncertainties relating to technologies, product development,
manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of DNAPrint's products,
dependence on collaborations and partners, regulatory approvals, competition,
intellectual property of others, and patent protection and litigation. DNAPrint
genomics, Inc. 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 DNAPrint's expectations with regard thereto or
any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements
are based.
Media and Press Contacts
Carrie Castillo
DNAPrint genomics, Inc.
Director, Marketing Communications
(941) 366-3400
ccastillo@dnaprint.com |
