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Monday, 12/09/2002 11:21:06 AM

Monday, December 09, 2002 11:21:06 AM

DNAPrint Launches Revolutionary Pan-Genome Screening Platform Based on Ancestral

/FROM PR NEWSWIRE MIAMI 305-461-8666/
TO BUSINESS, MEDICAL AND SCIENCE EDITORS:

DNAPrint Launches Revolutionary Pan-Genome Screening Platform Based on
Ancestral Admixture Mapping

SARASOTA, Fla., Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ --
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

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SOURCE DNAPrint genomics, Inc.

/CONTACT: Carrie Castillo, Director, Marketing Communications of
DNAPrintgenomics, Inc., +1-941-366-3400, or ccastillo@dnaprint.com/

/Web site: http://www.dnaprint.com /

Dec-09-2002 16:18 GMT
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