Rockefeller University to Study Genetic Roots of Obesity-Related Diseases Via Whole Genome Association Scans
June 07 2004 - 9:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
Rockefeller University to Study Genetic Roots of Obesity-Related
Diseases Via Whole Genome Association Scans - High density
GeneChip(R) research arrays to be used in comprehensive association
study - SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Affymetrix, Inc., (NASDAQ:AFFX) announced today that scientists at
The Rockefeller University will use GeneChip(R) arrays to genotype
more than 3,200 individuals at high density across the genome in
one of the first large-scale genome-wide association studies ever
undertaken. The Rockefeller research group includes Dr. Jeff
Friedman, Dr. Jan Breslow, and Dr. Markus Stoffel, who will focus
on discovering the genetic variations associated with obesity, high
blood pressure and diabetes in virtually the entire adult
population of the Micronesian island of Kosrae. (For an interactive
version of this press release with additional information, please
go to http://www.affymetrix.com/pr and click on the release title)
"We've been wanting to do this experiment for a long time, but
simply didn't have tools with the needed power and resolution to
get detailed genetic answers to define the associations between
specific genes and obesity," said Dr. Friedman, Director of the
Starr Center for Human Genetics and the university's Marilyn M.
Simpson Professor. Dr. Friedman also is a Howard Hughes Medical
Institute investigator. Friedman has been studying obesity-related
disease in Kosrae for the past ten years because of the unique
population in which obesity was virtually non- existent prior to
World War II. Following the arrival of U.S. aid and food relief,
the people of Kosrae changed their traditional diet of fish, fruit,
and vegetables for fattier foods. Within a single generation, much
of the population developed obesity, while others with the same
diet habits did not. Now, Rockefeller scientists are trying to
identify the exact genetic variations explaining why only some
individuals developed obesity. The source of these variations may
come from the unique genetic make up of Kosrae. Kosrae was founded
nearly 2,000 years ago by about 50 Polynesians, but later in the
mid- to late-19th century, Caucasian whalers visited and in many
cases settled on the island. The modern Caucasian/Polynesian
genetic mix and the clear distribution of obesity within the
population make Kosrae ideal for this kind of genetic association
study. Scientists from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
University will play a role in analyzing the data generated in this
study. "We are delighted to collaborate in this study with
Rockefeller University and Affymetrix," said David Altshuler,
Director of Medical and Population Genetics at Broad. "The unique
population history of Kosrae and the wonderful phenotypic data that
Dr. Friedman and his colleagues have collected makes this one of
the most promising opportunities in which to start doing
genome-wide association studies. In addition, Affymetrix has
dramatically advanced the field's ability to perform genome-wide
SNP genotyping with its new 100K Set and continued innovation to
higher SNP densities, making GeneChip arrays an excellent platform
for these studies." The Rockefeller scientists also are
collaborating with HHMI investigator Richard P. Lifton, of Yale
University School of Medicine. Previously, generating over 100,000
genotypes would have required over 100,000 PCR reactions, a hurdle
that made this kind of research impractical. However, GeneChip
array-based genotyping is now enabling individual scientists, like
Friedman and colleagues, to perform these large-scale whole- genome
studies. The collaboration plans to genotype SNPs from the new
GeneChip Mapping 100K Array Set, with over 115,000 SNPs. The
collaboration also plans to study 100,000 additional SNPs (up to
215,000 total) that may be relevant for the Micronesian population.
About half of the SNPs are from public databases, while the other
half are from the SNP database discovered by Perlegen Sciences,
Inc. "We are enthusiastic to support this unique Rockefeller
University project to identify genetic causes of obesity and major
related diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes," said
Greg Yap, Sr. Marketing Director, DNA Analysis of Affymetrix, Inc.
"These genome wide association studies require high resolution, and
our Mapping 100K Set is the first in a family of products to meet
this need. Because of the unique genetic makeup of the Kosrae
population, we have, in close collaboration with Dr. Friedman,
supplemented the 100K with additional SNPs that may be informative
in this population. Researchers can start generating and analyzing
useful data with 100K today, and our easy, affordable genotyping
assay makes it possible to add as many SNPs as desired." The 100K
Set, the first product to start enabling genome-wide association
studies, is now available under an expanded technology access
program and will formally launch this summer. Although the research
arrays used in this collaboration are not broadly available,
Affymetrix is using this collaboration to help accelerate
development of next generation arrays with additional SNPs. About
Affymetrix: Affymetrix is a pioneer in creating breakthrough tools
that are driving the genomic revolution. By applying the principles
of semiconductor technology to the life sciences, Affymetrix
develops and commercializes systems that enable scientists to
improve quality of life. The Company's customers include
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrichemical, diagnostics and
consumer products companies as well as academic, government and
other non- profit research institutes. Affymetrix offers an
expanding portfolio of integrated products and services, including
its integrated GeneChip brand platform, to address growing markets
focused on understanding the relationship between genes and human
health. Additional information on Affymetrix can be found at
http://www.affymetrix.com/. 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, including statements regarding Affymetrix' "expectations,"
"beliefs," "hopes," "intentions," "strategies" or the like. Such
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially for Affymetrix from those
projected, including, but not limited to risks of the Company's
ability to achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher
gross margins, reduced operating expenses, uncertainties relating
to technological approaches, manufacturing, product development,
market acceptance (including uncertainties relating to product
development, use and market acceptance of the GeneChip(R) Mapping
100K Array or related research arrays), personnel retention,
uncertainties related to cost and pricing of Affymetrix products,
dependence on collaborative partners, uncertainties relating to
sole source suppliers, uncertainties relating to FDA and other
regulatory approvals, competition, risks relating to intellectual
property of others and the uncertainties of patent protection and
litigation. These and other risk factors are discussed in
Affymetrix' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for
subsequent quarterly periods. Affymetrix 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 Affymetrix' expectations with regard thereto
or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any
such statements are based. About Rockefeller University: A total of
23 Nobel Prize winning scientists -- including its president Paul
Nurse, Ph.D. -- are associated with this unique research
university, founded in 1901 and located in New York City. The
university's over 70 major laboratories conduct research in the
biological and biomedical sciences. For more information:
http://www.rockefeller.edu/. (A brief article about the Kosrae
study is posted at
http://www.rockefeller.edu/pub/discoveries/syndrome_x.php) NOTE:
Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo, and GeneChip are registered
trademarks owned or used by Affymetrix, Inc. DATASOURCE:
Affymetrix, Inc. CONTACT: Media - Wes Conard, Associate Director,
Public Relations of Affymetrix, Inc., +1-408-731-5791; Cathy
Yarbrough, Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs of
Rockefeller University, +1-212-327-7121; Investor - Doug Farrell,
Vice President, Investor Relations of Affymetrix, Inc.,
+1-408-731-5285 Web site: http://www.affymetrix.com/
http://www.rockefeller.edu/
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