Below, two stories that should prove to be of interest. The first story is a few weeks old, but I have included it in this post because it is relevant to the second story which I received today. Tsadowq xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 05:37AM Fri Apr 07 2000 NZST Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent WASHINGTON, April 6 (Reuters) - Celera Genomics said on Thursday it had finished the first step of sequencing the genes of one person, making a human genetic map that could eventually transform medicine and biology. The U.S. company aims to be the first to have a complete sequence of the human genome, which is the collection of all the genes and other genetic material that are the basic blueprint of life. Scientists will use this map to learn more about genes involved in disease, how medicines work, and the workings of basic human biology. "This is the key milestone," Craig Venter, chairman and chief scientific officer of Celera, said in an interview. The Rockville, Maryland-based company's shares rose US$28 on the news to $141. Celera plans to use the genes of five different people, who will remain anonymous, to make up a final human genome sequence. It will copy this sequence several times over to make sure it is correct. It started working on the human genome in September, using a method called whole genome shotgun sequencing. This is a different, quicker method from that used by a public alliance of researchers, called the Human Genome Project, which is also working to sequence the human genome. "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," Venter said. "For the next several weeks we'll be working on assembly," he added. "This is expected to allow researchers worldwide and our subscribers to utilize our data to make important medical advances." Celera has been accused of failing to keep its promise to make the human genome information widely available. But Venter told a hearing of the U.S. House Energy and Environment subcommittee of the Committee on Science on Thursday he would keep that promise. "We will be publishing the assembled, accurate, annotated sequence," he told the committee. The sequence is only a very early first step to understanding the human genome. It does not tell scientists what the genes do -- it just gives the order of the nucleotides, which are the molecules that make up the twisted double helix of DNA. Celera has taken the genes and broken them apart into two different lengths. It uses standard genetic technology to read out the nucleotides -- known by the initials A, C, T and G. These four nucleotides repeat over and over again in varying patterns, and these patterns make up the genetic code. What Celera has now is what has been described as a big pile of jigsaw puzzle pieces. It will now use its powerful computers to read the A, C, T and G code and put together the pieces. Mark Adams, vice president for genome programs at Celera, said the five people were chosen for their diversity. "They are not five white guys," he said in a recent interview. The Human Genome Project, in contrast, is using a "mosaic" of about 10 different donors. Most of the sequence will come from one person's genes. He, too, will remain anonymous. Scientists then hope to compare various people's different genes to one another to find the tiny changes in the code that make one person different from another. "We stand to gain enormous benefits, not the least of which is the way medicine will be practiced in the new millennium," Neal Lane, scientific adviser to President Bill Clinton, told the House hearing. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Gene Logic to Use Custom GeneChip Arrays from Affymetrix to Expand GeneExpress Database - Drives GeneExpress(TM) Data Content Towards Full Genome Coverage - GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Gene Logic Inc. (Nasdaq: GLGC), a leading provider of genomic information, and Affymetrix, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFFX), the leading provider of microarray technology, today announced the exercise of an option in their GeneChip(R) agreement to include access to custom GeneChip(R) probe arrays. Gene Logic will provide proprietary sequence information from its internal sequence database, currently containing over 50,000 proprietary gene sequences, to Affymetrix, which will design and manufacture a series of custom arrays. These custom arrays will complement Affymetrix' current 60,000 human gene set, which consists of current sequences emerging from the Human Genome Project, and will accelerate the pace at which Gene Logic achieves full genome coverage for the samples used in the GeneExpress(TM) database. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The GeneExpress database is a massive reference set of gene expression information covering a broad range of normal and diseased human tissues, experimental animals and disease models and cell lines. Gene expression, which is the degree to which genes in a cell are switched on or off, or regulated, is information critical to understanding the functions of genes. The GeneExpress database is the world's most comprehensive, commercial source of this information. The most recent version of the product, GeneExpress 2000, was launched earlier this month and is in the process of deployment to commercial subscribers, upgrading version 1.0, which was introduced in November 1999. The database suite can be used for many important research applications, such as to discover and validate novel drug targets, develop therapeutic compounds and facilitate clinical trials and patient management. The addition of gene expression data generated using the custom GeneChip arrays will immediately expand the utility of the GeneExpress by enabling users to get functional information on many thousands of genes discovered by Gene Logic that are not presently available on standard GeneChip arrays. "For over a year we have utilized standard Affymetrix GeneChip arrays to build the backbone of the GeneExpress database suite, the world's leading gene expression database," said Dr. Michael J. Brennan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gene Logic. "However, using our patented READS(TM) technology and bioinformatics efforts, we have also identified an expanding set of proprietary gene sequences and a unique view of the human genome. By placing these proprietary genes on Affymetrix GeneChip arrays, we expect to drive our understanding of gene expression across a larger segment of the human genome with the goal of having gene expression values for all normal and diseased states across the entire genome within 18 months." Affymetrix Overview Affymetrix is a leader in developing and commercializing systems to acquire, analyze and manage complex genetic information in order to improve the quality of life. The Company's GeneChip system consists of disposable DNA probe arrays containing gene sequences on a chip, reagents for use with the probe arrays, a scanner, and other instruments to process the probe arrays and software to analyze and manage genetic information. The Company's spotted array system enables individual researchers to create and analyze custom microarrays on an easy-to-use, cost efficient platform. Additional information on Affymetrix and GeneChip technology can be found at www.affymetrix.com . Gene Logic Overview Gene Logic Inc. is a leading provider of genomic information, enabling the discovery and development of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, health care, and life science products through the systematic and industrialized application of genomics and bioinformatics. Gene Logic has built and is commercializing what it believes to be the world's most comprehensive survey of gene expression in human and animal tissues. Gene Logic markets two types of gene expression database products to the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, health care and life science industries: its custom databases and related software products and its new GeneExpress reference database suite. The GeneExpress database suite can be used for a variety of research applications, such as to discover and validate novel drug targets, develop therapeutic compounds and facilitate clinical trials and patient management. Because the gene expression information is warehoused in electronic form and in a relational database, Gene Logic has the flexibility of offering the data in different versions for customers requiring different levels of information and pricing such versions optimally. Since the launch of the first commercial version of the GeneExpress database in November 1999, multiple pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have subscribed. Gene Logic believes its GeneExpress database suite will become a fundamental reference source of gene expression information for many scientists engaged in industrial and academic life sciences research. Because the information is distributed over the Internet, Gene Logic is in effect also establishing a portal that will create multiple e-commerce promotional and transactional revenue opportunities. These may include the promotion and sale of third party products, such as custom microarrays, research reagents and specialized genomic diagnostic products. Customers for Gene Logic's databases and data management software include: Aventis (formerly Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc.); Aventis CropScience (formerly Hoechst Schering AgrEvo GmbH); Fujisawa Pharmaceutical; Japan Tobacco; Merck & Co.; NeuralStem BioPharmaceuticals, Organon (Akzo Nobel); PE Biosystems; Pfizer; Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals; Schering-Plough Research Institute; SmithKline Beecham; Therapeutic Genomics; UCB Pharma; and Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories (American Home Products). For more information about Gene Logic, visit the company's Web site at www.genelogic.com . Except for any historical information presented herein, matters presented in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the "Risk Factors" section included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1999 as filed on March 30, 2000 and those discussed from time to time in Gene Logic's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE Gene Logic Inc. CO: Gene Logic Inc.; Affymetrix, Inc. ST: Maryland, California IN: MTC BIO SU: 05/01/2000 06:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com Announcement: America Online has added Reuters newswires to News Profiles. 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