Home Run on CRA!! News: Completed Genome on Human! [We bought CRA yesterday]
CELERA GENOMICS COMPLETES SEQUENCING PHASE OF THE GENOME FROM ONE HUMAN BEING; COMPANY BEGINS SEQUENCING MOUSE GENOME HEALTH/MEDICAL WRITERS ROCKVILLE, MD.
ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BW HealthWire)--April 6, 2000--Celera Genomics
(NYSE:CRA.N), a PE Corporation business, announced today that it has
completed the sequencing phase of one person's genome and will now
begin to assemble the sequenced fragments of the genome into their
proper order based on new computational advances. Celera began to
sequence the human genome seven months ago in September 1999. In
addition to assembly, the company will now focus on annotating the
sequence information and collecting additional data on genetic
variations.
Celera's whole genome shotgun sequencing technique involves
sequencing from both ends of the double stranded cloned DNA. Celera's
accurately paired clone end sequences are a key tool for assembling
the genome much more completely than single stranded sequencing
methods allow at comparable levels of sequence coverage. Celera's
paired end-sequencing strategy, as part of the whole genome shotgun
sequencing technique, has now produced sequence pairs from clones that
cover the human genome 11 times. The company believes that 99% of the
human genome is represented in the cloned DNA.
Celera's whole genome sequencing strategy has been validated by
the recent publication of the Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly)
genome, the largest genome to be sequenced and assembled to date.
Drosophila is a very important model for human biology and medicine.
After assembly and annotation, the non-repetitive regions of the
Drosophila genome have greater than 99.99% sequence accuracy.
Celera has finished the human genome sequencing phase and has
started the assembly of the genome, but the company will continue to
perform human sequencing for SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms)
diversity and for gap closure. The SNPs are single letter variations
between people that determine susceptibility to disease and the
ability to combat illness. A significant feature of Celera's approach
to sequencing the human genome is the use of genetic material from
both men and women of various ethnic backgrounds. When Celera
completes human SNP sequencing over the next few months, its genomic
database will consist of data from six men and women of varying
self-identified ethnic backgrounds. This approach should allow Celera
to develop a database for studying the genetic variations between
individuals at the same time the genome is being deciphered.
"Now that we have completed the sequencing of one human being's
genome we will turn our computational power to the task of ordering
the human genome," said J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Celera's president and
chief scientific officer. "We intend to complete and publish the human
data in a form that is consistent with the high-quality Drosophila
genome that Celera achieved in collaboration with the Berkeley
Drosophila Genome Project. This is expected to allow researchers
worldwide and our subscribers to utilize our data to make important
medical advances."
Celera Starts Mouse Genome Project
Celera has now begun the mouse genome project, which is of
critical importance to biomedical researchers using the mouse as a
model for studies of human biology and medicine. A key feature of
Celera's business model will be the ability to compare genomes from
various organisms (comparative genomics). The comparison of the mouse,
Drosophila, and human genomes is expected to open many new avenues of
research into the mechanisms of gene conservation and regulation,
which could lead to a better understanding of gene function and
disease.
Celera Milestones
Human Genome:
On January 10, 2000, Celera announced it had compiled data
covering 90% of the human genome. With the announcement today, Celera
is on target to complete the assembly and annotation of the human
genome later this year.
Drosophila melanogaster Genome:
On December 30, 1999, Celera completed the release of the
Drosophila genome sequence to the public data bank. After doing
extensive scientific analysis in conjunction with the Berkeley
Drosophila Genome Project (BDGP) and other collaborators, Celera and
the public collaborators published the manuscripts in the scientific
journal Science on March 24, 2000. Celera and its collaborators have
identified nearly 14,000 genes in the genome, many in commercially
important protein families, which should prove valuable in developing
new therapeutics and insecticides. Drosophila is the largest genome
sequenced to date, and is the first insect and the first organism with
a central nervous system to be sequenced.
PE Corporation currently comprises two operating groups. Celera
Genomics Group, headquartered in Rockville, MD, intends to become the
definitive source of genomic and related medical information. PE
Biosystems Group (NYSE: PEB.N), headquartered in Foster City, CA and
with sales of $1.2 billion during fiscal 1999, develops and markets
instrument-based systems, reagents, software, and contract related
services to the life science industry and research community.
Information about the company, including consolidated financial
statements of PE Corporation, is available on the World Wide Web at
pecorporation.com or by phoning (800) 762-6923.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking.
These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases
such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "intend,"
"planned," "estimated," and "potential," among others. These
forward-looking statements are based on PE Corporation's current
expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order
to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, PE Corporation notes that
a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to
differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations
expressed in such forward-looking statements. The risks and
uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance,
development, and results of Celera Genomics' businesses include but
are not limited to (1) operating losses to date; (2) a unique and
developing business plan; (3) dependence on the timely completion of
the sequencing and assembly of the human genome; (4) uncertainty of
revenue growth; (5) unproven use of genomics information to develop
products; (6) intense competition in the evolving genomics industry;
(7) dependence on customers in and subject to the risks of the
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; (8) heavy reliance on
strategic relationship with the PE Biosystems group; (9) potential
product liability claims; (10) liabilities related to use of hazardous
materials; (11) lengthy sales cycle; (12) dependence on the unique
expertise of its scientific and management staff; (13) uncertainty of
patent, copyright and intellectual property protection; (14)
dependence on computer hardware, software, and internet applications;
(15) access to biological materials; (16) legal, ethical and social
issues affecting demand for products; (17) disruptions caused by rapid
growth of the business; (18) government regulation of its products and
services; (19) risks of future acquisitions; and (20) other factors
that might be described from time to time in PE Corporation's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copyright (c) 2000. PE
Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Celera, Celera Genomics, and PE
Biosystems are trademarks of PE Corporation. |
