Argonne licenses DNA sequence analysis technology to IP Genesis

ARGONNE, Ill (January 28, 2002) -- Comparative Sequence Assembly (CSA™), a new technology for comparative DNA sequencing and analysis developed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, has been licensed exclusively to IP Genesis, Inc., a company based in Houston. IP Genesis expects to launch a CSATM sublicensing program this year, with an aim to enable deciphering of genomic information through large-scale application of the technology.

"The newly available human genomic sequence has been often referred to as the 'Book of Life.' In order to understand the meaning of this 'Book,' however, we first need to understand the language in which it is written." explains Dr. Aleksandar Milosavljevic, former Argonne scientist who developed the sequencing technology. Milosavljevic, who founded IP Genesis, added, "An essential step in the learning of any new language is the reading of related texts. This is where Comparative Sequence Assembly fits in. The CSA technology enables the deciphering of the human genome through comparative analysis against the genomes of other primates, mouse, rat, and other organisms."

The patented technology includes a combined step of fragment assembly of one nucleic acid and sequence comparison against a second, already assembled, DNA sequence. The information gleaned through CSA technology enables discovery of basic molecular mechanisms of disease and the discovery of drug targets and novel therapies.

IP Genesis is a new bioinformatics and genomics company. For more information about IP Genesis, Inc., visit their Web site at www.ipgenesis.com.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

For more information, please contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov) at Argonne.