Applied Biosystems Advances PCR with New Thermal Cycler Technology.Proprietary VeriFlex[TM] Blocks Deliver First of Its Kind Temperature Control Capabilities Enabling Greater Flexibility in Performing PCR PCR polymerase chain reaction. PCR abbr. polymerase chain reaction Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) FOSTER CITY, Calif. -- Applied Biosystems (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : ABI Abi (ā`bī) [short for Abijah], in the Bible, King Hezekiah's mother. (Application Binary Interface) A specification for a specific hardware platform combined with the operating system. ), an Applera Corporation business, today announced a first-of-its-kind, temperature-control technology that is expected to increase the accuracy and efficiency of the process of performing the polymerase chain reaction polymerase chain reaction (pŏl`ĭmərās') (PCR), laboratory process in which a particular DNA segment from a mixture of DNA chains is rapidly replicated, producing a large, readily analyzed sample of a piece of DNA; the process is (PCR) - a widely used laboratory technique for duplicating nucleic acids Nucleic acids The cellular molecules DNA and RNA that act as coded instructions for the production of proteins and are copied for transmission of inherited traits. . The new proprietary technology used in VeriFlex[TM] Blocks, is being introduced in the new Veriti[TM] 96-Well Thermal Cycler. This technology enables researchers to rapidly find optimal reaction temperatures and accurately perform simultaneous mixed-temperature reactions. Independent market research1 shows that technological advances in temperature regulation are important to the advancement of thermal cycling, a process during which the slightest variation in heating or cooling temperatures can result in failed PCR experiments. Applied Biosystems has incorporated the VeriFlex Block technology into its new line of thermal cyclers to directly address many of the challenges inherent in controlling temperature consistency within the thermal cycling process. Having more precise control over thermal cycling temperatures creates more efficient workflows for scientists using PCR in a variety of medical and biology research applications including gene expression, genotyping and pathogen detection. One of the early testers of the new VeriFlex Blocks-equipped Veriti Thermal Cycler is the City of Hope's Beckman Research Institute The Beckman Research Institute (BRI) is a research facility affiliated with the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, CA. It is dedicated to studying normal and abnormal biological processes which may be related to cancer. . The new system is now in use in the City of Hope's DNA Sequencing Lab which performs research in molecular genetics molecular genetics n. The branch of genetics that deals with hereditary transmission and variation on the molecular level. and cellular biology cellular biology n. The study of the molecular or chemical interactions of biological phenomena. as part of the center's mission to find the causes and cures for cancer and other life-threatening diseases such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome . "Based on our initial experience, it appears that the Veriti Thermal Cycler will allow us to troubleshoot or do a whole battery of tests across a broad range of different temperatures in a single run, something that previously required using multiple thermal cyclers," said Hector Rivera, Manager of the DNA Sequencing Lab at City of Hope. "Before, we had to use two or three thermal cyclers to set up a gradient of temperatures that would optimize a certain reaction. Now, with a single Veriti Thermal Cycler, it appears that we will be able to rapidly find the optimal annealing annealing (ənēl`ĭng), process in which glass, metals, and other materials are treated to render them less brittle and more workable. temperatures and run multiple reactions at different temperatures at the same time." Thermal cycling simplifies the process of conducting PCR by using thermal alloy "blocks" which are heated and cooled repeatedly. This heating process, when coupled with PCR chemistries, enables a biological copy machine, which produces multiple duplicates of specific nucleic acid nucleic acid, any of a group of organic substances found in the chromosomes of living cells and viruses that play a central role in the storage and replication of hereditary information and in the expression of this information through protein synthesis. base sequences. This process plays an important role in medical and biological research laboratories for the successful performance of a variety of applications such as the identification of genetic fingerprints, the cloning of genes, the detection of pathogens, and paternity testing paternity testing see parentage testing. . Through six separately controlled alloy blocks, also known as zones, VeriFlex Blocks allow users to set specific temperatures that will not encroach encroach v. to build a structure which is in whole or in part across the property line of another's real property. This may occur due to incorrect surveys, guesses or miscalculations by builders and/or owners when erecting a building. into neighboring zones. This precise control by separate blocks differentiates VeriFlex Blocks from current gradient technologies which create hard to regulate gradients of temperature across a single block. "Applied Biosystems is committed to delivering innovative technologies that not only meet the needs of our customers, but also create new opportunities to advance life science research and discovery," said Peter Dansky, vice president and general manager for Applied Biosystems' molecular and cell biology consumables business. "We expect that the new Veriti 96-Well Thermal Cycler with VeriFlex Blocks technology will further advance the use of PCR by providing life scientists a novel approach to thermal cycling and a more flexible system for optimizing their PCR experiments." The Veriti 96-Well Thermal Cycler with VeriFlex Blocks is the first product in a new line of systems from Applied Biosystems. The Veriti Thermal Cycler features an easy to use touch screen interface that simplifies the process of controlling temperature zones and operating the instrument system. Users also benefit from the flexibility to run pre-programmed or custom methods using fast or standard chemistries. The Veriti 96-Well Thermal Cycler with VeriFlex Blocks is part of Applied Biosystems' industry-leading portfolio of instrument systems and chemical reagents for performing PCR. More information is available at info.appliedbiosystems.com/veriti. 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 DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. and RNA RNA: see nucleic acid. RNA in full ribonucleic acid One of the two main types of nucleic acid (the other being DNA), which functions in cellular protein synthesis in all living cells and replaces DNA as the carrier of genetic ), 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 over $1.9 billion during fiscal 2006. The Celera Group is primarily a molecular diagnostics business that is using proprietary genomics and proteomics discovery platforms to identify and validate novel diagnostic markers, and is developing diagnostic products based on these markers. Celera maintains a strategic alliance with Abbott Laboratories for the development and commercialization of molecular, or nucleic acid-based, diagnostic products, and it is also developing new diagnostic products outside of this alliance. Through its genomics and proteomics research efforts, Celera is also discovering and validating therapeutic targets, and it is seeking to develop therapeutic products based on these discovered targets through strategic partnerships. 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/. Applied Biosystems Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "should, "planned," and "expect," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Applera Corporation's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995 provides a "safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Applera Corporation notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to: (1) rapidly changing technology and dependence on the development and customer acceptance of new products; (2) sales dependent on customers' capital spending capital spending Spending for long-term assets such as factories, equipment, machinery, and buildings that permits the production of more goods and services in future years. policies and government-sponsored research; and (3) other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Applera does not undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking statements, unless required by law. For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. NOTICE TO PURCHASER: Label License The Veriti[TM] Thermal Cycler is covered by patents owned by Applera Corporation. No right is conveyed expressly, by implication, or by estoppel A legal principle that bars a party from denying or alleging a certain fact owing to that party's previous conduct, allegation, or denial. The rationale behind estoppel is to prevent injustice owing to inconsistency or Fraud. to apparatus, reagents, kits, or methods such as the patented 5' nuclease nuclease /nu·cle·ase/ (noo´kle-as) any of a group of enzymes that split nucleic acids into nucleotides and other products. nu·cle·ase n. methods. For further information contact the Director of Licensing, Applied Biosystems, 850 Lincoln Centre Drive, Foster City, California
Applera, Applied Biosystems, and AB (Design) are registered trademarks and VeriFlex and Veriti are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the US and/or certain other countries. Copyright[c] 2007. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved 1Strategic Analysis of Thermal Cycler Markets, Frost & Sullivan, February 8, 2007 |
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