Leading Life Sciences Company to Provide Laboratory Research
Equipment and Services to Ten Global Field Research Centers
Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business,
and the Genographic Project today announced that Applied Biosystems
has joined the Genographic Project as a supporting sponsor. Applied
Biosystems has signed a multi-year agreement with the project to
provide laboratory research equipment and services to each of the ten
participating global research centers. The company's technology will
be used to aid in the generation of one of the world's largest
databases of information about the sources of humankind's diversity.
The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The Genographic Project is a ground-breaking research partnership
of the National Geographic Society and IBM to map the history of human
migration, with global field science supported by the Waitt Family
Foundation.
Applied Biosystems is a leading global provider of life science
technologies. The company brings a 25-year history of groundbreaking
life science innovation to the project, including the development of
the technologies that enabled the historic sequencing of the human
genome.
Applied Biosystems DNA analysis technologies -- including
instruments that sequence DNA, detect genetic variations and identify
patterns of inheritance -- will enhance the ability of the Genographic
Project to analyze DNA from more than 100,000 individuals from
indigenous and traditional populations with whom researchers will be
collaborating in this landmark study.
Theodore Schurr, Ph.D., principal investigator of the North
American Regional Center for the Genographic Project and assistant
professor in the department of anthropology at the University of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, is the first project researcher to
receive the state-of-the-art equipment from Applied Biosystems. "My
international colleagues and I all agree that this dedicated
laboratory equipment will expand our research efforts tremendously,"
said Dr. Schurr. "It will not only accelerate the rate and promote the
accuracy of our genetic analyses, but also greatly amplify the breadth
of work that we can do for the Genographic Project."
The other laboratories that will perform the DNA analysis for the
project are located at: the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
(Brazil), Institut Pasteur (France), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Spain),
American University of Beirut Medical Center (Lebanon), Russian
Academy of Medical Sciences (Russia), La Trobe University (Australia),
Fudan University (China), Madurai Kamaraj University (India), National
Health Laboratory Service (South Africa), and the Australian Centre
for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide (Australia).
Researchers at these global regional field research sites will use
Applied Biosystems technology to analyze DNA samples from indigenous
and traditional populations around the globe. DNA from these groups is
important to the project because it contains key genetic markers that
have remained relatively unaltered over hundreds of generations.
Analysis of these markers should help researchers understand
humankind's diversity resulting from approximately 60,000 years of
global migration. Analysis of the collected samples is purely for
anthropological research purposes.
"Understanding the genetic variations that have occurred over
thousands of years of migration and evolution will help us to
understand modern-day human diversity, from the way we look to the
various languages we speak," said Spencer Wells, Ph.D., project
director for the Genographic Project. "Applied Biosystems is an ideal
supporting sponsor for us in this ambitious initiative because of its
long track record of success in applying science and technology to the
challenges of DNA analysis."
In addition to providing the suite of research technologies that
will be used in the project, Applied Biosystems also will provide
equipment training, service and logistical supply support to the
world-wide research laboratories.
"The discovery and characterization of meaningful genetic
variations has become a principle focus for life science research,"
said Catherine M. Burzik, president of Applied Biosystems. "This
project, with a mission to help explain those variations that have
contributed to the rich genetic diversity of our species, is well
aligned with our corporate commitment to advancing the many
applications of life science technology that can benefit society."
Members of the general public can take part in the project by
purchasing a Genographic Project Public Participation Kit and
submitting their own cheek swab sample, enabling them to track the
overall progress of the project as well as learn their own migratory
history. Data from the Genographic Project eventually will be made
public in a form that does not reveal the identity of participants.
Proceeds from kit sales support the Genographic Legacy Fund and
incremental field research. For more information about the project,
visit www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Please see the attached backgrounder for more
information on the Applied Biosystems technologies and services it is
providing to the Genographic Project. For photographs, please visit
http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/genographic_images/.
Username: press
Password: press
About the National Geographic Society
Founded in 1888, the National Geographic Society is one of the
world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations.
Its mission is to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while
promoting the conservation of the world's cultural, historical and
natural resources. National Geographic Society reflects the world
through its five magazines, cable television channels and programs,
films, radio, books, videos, maps, interactive media and merchandise,
reaching as many as 300 million people each month.
About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems
Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. The Applied
Biosystems Group serves the life science industry and research
community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems,
consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools to
analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to
make scientific discoveries and develop new pharmaceuticals. Applied
Biosystems' products also serve the needs of some markets outside of
life science research, which we refer to as "applied markets," such as
the fields of: human identity testing (forensic and paternity
testing); biosecurity, which refers to products needed in response to
the threat of biological terrorism and other malicious, accidental,
and natural biological dangers; and quality and safety testing, for
example in food and the environment. Applied Biosystems is
headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of nearly $1.8
billion during fiscal 2005. The Celera Genomics Group is focused on
discovery, development, and commercialization of diagnostic products
as well as leveraging its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic
capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and is also
seeking to advance therapeutic antibody and selected small molecule
drug programs in collaboration with global technology and market
leaders. Information about Applera Corporation, including reports and
other information filed by the company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, is available at http://www.applera.com, or by
telephoning 800.762.6923. Information about Applied Biosystems is
available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with
more than 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. It
has a long history of innovating on behalf of society, and in recent
years has launched a series of major research initiatives designed to
overcome many of the remaining "grand challenges" of science,
including the Deep Blue chess-playing computer and unraveling the
mysteries of protein folding with BlueGene, the world's fastest
supercomputer. IBM Research is the world's largest information
technology research organization, with more than 3,000 scientists and
engineers at eight labs in six countries. For more information about
IBM, visit www.ibm.com.
About the Waitt Family Foundation
The Waitt Family Foundation funds partnerships and projects that
seek a deeper understanding of human history, expand the potential of
the human mind and improve mankind's knowledge through historical and
scientific exploration. The Foundation applies its resources on the
past, present and future of mankind, and by anticipating what might be
on the horizon tomorrow, helps prepare for a better world. For more
information about the Waitt Family Foundation, visit
www.waittfoundation.org.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Applied Biosystems, AmpFlSTR and Celera are registered trademarks
and Applera and Yfiler are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its
subsidiaries in the US and/or certain other countries. TaqMan is a
registered trademark of Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. All other
trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners. Copyright
(C) 2006 Applied Biosystems. All rights reserved.
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Applied Biosystems
Genographic Project - Technology Backgrounder
Specific technologies supplied by Applied Biosystems to support
the Genographic Project include:
3100 and 3130xl Genetic Analyzers: The versatile, next-generation
3130 Series Systems, including the 3130xl, deliver higher quality
genomic data, faster turnaround times, improved automation, and
greater reliability across the complete range of sequencing,
resequencing (mutational profiling), and fragment analysis
applications. The 16-capillary 3130xl Genetic Analyzer and the
upgradable 4-capillary 3130 Genetic Analyzer provide all the benefits
of the Applied Biosystems suite of fluorescence-based capillary
electrophoresis (CE) systems. Both systems offer industry-leading
performance, plus sophisticated automation capabilities that save time
and increase productivity.
GeneAmp(R) PCR System 9700: The tradition of quality and
performance that began with Applied Biosystems' first TC1 thermal
cycler in 1988 continues with the versatile, reliable GeneAmp(R) PCR
System 9700. The GeneAmp(R) PCR System 9700 is specifically designed
for the amplification of nucleic acids. The complete system consists
of a base module and one of many interchangeable sample block modules.
The 96-well GeneAmp(R) PCR System 9700 is designed for use with 0.2 ml
reaction tubes or 96-well reaction plates for all routine PCR
applications.
7300 Real-Time PCR System: The Applied Biosystems 7300 Real-Time
PCR System is an integrated platform for the detection and
quantification of nucleic acid sequences. Real-time PCR combines
thermal cycling, fluorescence detection, and application-specific
software to measure the cycle-by-cycle accumulation of PCR products in
a single-tube, homogeneous reaction. Real-time PCR runs are completed
in less than two hours, and quantitative results are available
immediately upon completion of PCR, with no need to run gels, purify
PCR products, or perform any post-PCR manipulations.
7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR System: The Applied Biosystems 7900HT
Fast Real-Time PCR System is the only real-time quantitative PCR
system that combines 96- and 384-well plate compatibility and the
TaqMan(R) Low Density Array with fully automated robotic loading.
Acknowledged as the gold standard in real-time PCR, the 7900HT system
combined with TaqMan(R) Genomic Assays enables unprecedented
throughput and flexibility, allowing the pursuit of projects beyond
the scope of previous real-time instruments.
AmpFlSTR(R) Yfiler(TM) PCR Amplification Kits: The Applied
Biosystems AmpFlSTR(R) Yfiler(TM) PCR Amplification Kit is an STR
assay that co-amplifies 17 Y-chromosome STRs in a single PCR reaction.
The Yfiler kit has been developed for use with the ABI PRISM(R) 3100
Genetic Analyzers. Data generated from the Yfiler kit can be analyzed
with Applied Biosystems software packages including GeneMapper(R) ID
Software.
GeneMapper(R) ID Software: GeneMapper ID Software v3.2 improves
workflow by streamlining the transition between data collection and
analysis. Built-in automated concordance checks for controls and
markers common to various AmpFlSTR PCR amplification kits and measures
data integrity before results are exported in a database-compatible
format.
