Agencourt Genomic Services Is Key Sequencing Collaborator In Newly Released Study Of Human Genetic Structural Variation

Article in This Week's Nature Sheds Light on Why Humans Are Different

Fullerton, CA - Agencourt Bioscience Corporation, a Beckman Coulter company, announced that its Genomic Services operation performed the genome sequencing in a groundbreaking new study on human genetic variation. The work is published in an article, "Mapping and Sequencing of Structural Variation from Eight Human Genomes," in the May 1 issue of the journal Nature. The study used a novel sequence-based approach to achieve higher accuracy than previous work that used signal intensity differences to predict regions of variation. Agencourt worked closely with Evan Eichler of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Washington Department of Genome Sciences to pioneer this sequence-based approach. Ten Agencourt scientists are among the lead authors of the study, which was funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute.

This study, which used a geographically diverse set of international HapMap samples, provides the first high-resolution, sequence-based map of common structural variation in the human genome across global populations. The results reveal that structural variations tend to cluster in certain areas of the genome, many of which are also associated with disease susceptibility. The research, which revealed many new structurally variant regions, also elucidated 525 previously uncharacterized regions of the genome not present in the existing reference sequence.

In addition, the study revealed approximately 1.3 million new SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and approximately 600,000 new small insertion/deletion polymorphisms, which were mapped through a collaboration with Jim Mullikin of the National Human Genome Research Institute.

"Our participation in this major study further demonstrates our large-scale sequencing capabilities," commented Douglas Smith, director of Agencourt's sequencing center. "We are one of the top sequencing centers in the world and enjoy collaborative relationships with many leading scientists performing groundbreaking research."

Agencourt Bioscience Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Beckman Coulter, is a leading provider of nucleic acid purification products and genomic services for life science research. The company's products and services are based on the patented Agencourt SPRI (Solid Phase Reversible Immobilization) paramagnetic bead-based technology.

Beckman Coulter, Inc., based in Orange County, California, develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical tests. More than 200,000 Beckman Coulter systems operate in laboratories around the world, supplying critical information for improving patient health and reducing the cost of care. Recurring revenue, consisting of supplies, test kits, service and operating-type lease payments, represents approximately 78 percent of the company's 2007 annual revenue of $2.76 billion.

SOURCE: Beckman Coulter, Inc.