Ceres and Genset Complete Major Corn Genomics Milestone
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – September 7, 2000 – Ceres, Inc., a dedicated plant genomics company, and Genset, a leading human genomics company, announced today that they have completed a major gene sequencing project characterizing several tens of thousands of genes in corn (Zea mays). Corn is economically the most important crop in the United States with over 77 million acres planted last year and a market value at the farm level of over $18 billion.
The Ceres corn sequencing project emphasized full-length cDNA sequencing as opposed to EST (partial gene) sequencing in order to capture complete information on gene sequences and the encoded proteins, and to be able to utilize the full-length physical clones in other genomics platforms as well as in product development. Such full-length cDNA sequences have been notably absent from other high-throughput gene sequencing programs because of the technical and organizational difficulties involved.
"These corn sequences and physical clones build on our early lead in full-length cDNA sequencing and are being fed through our integrated assembly line of functional genomics technologies. Having access to the sequences as well as the full-length physical clones of so many corn genes will speed up our product development efforts in this economically valuable crop," remarked Ceres President and Chief Executive Officer Walter De Logi. He added, "Ceres continues to pursue an aggressive intellectual property strategy and has filed patent applications covering several tens of thousands of full-length genes, their regulatory regions and their functions in various plant species."
"Full-length cDNAs provide Ceres with a substantial competitive advantage because they enable superior functional predictions of the encoded protein, can be easily incorporated into high- throughput screening assays for new crop protection chemicals, and facilitate the creation of plant lines in which genes of interest are expressed in novel ways," stated Dr. Richard Flavell, the Chief Scientific Officer of Ceres. He added, "While corn is important in and of itself, these sequences and their functions, combined with the results of our previously completed sequencing projects and our ongoing functional genomics efforts, give our scientists a broad understanding of most of the active genes in both monocot and dicot plant species."
The corn sequencing program was conducted in close collaboration with Genset S.A., a leading human genomics company. Genset's President and Chief Executive Officer André Pernet commented: "Genset's proprietary full-length cDNA technology and its world-class capabilities in DNA sequencing and synthesis, combined with Ceres' bioinformatics skills and understanding of the plant genome, have allowed Ceres to determine the sequence of several tens of thousands of full-length genes from multiple plant species. Few other genomics companies, if any, have elucidated as many full-length gene sequences. As a shareholder of Ceres we are particularly pleased to participate in this success."
Ceres, Inc. is a privately held, integrated plant genomics company utilizing multiple technologies in an industrial, assembly-line fashion to rapidly discover plant genes and their functions. Ceres' technology platforms include high-throughput DNA sequencing, mutant analysis, gene expression analysis, gene activation and gene inactivation technologies. Ceres applies the knowledge gleaned from these platforms in three major product development areas: target discovery and validation for crop protection chemical screening, the use of plants as feedstocks for chemical and pharmaceutical production, and the development of high-value genetically enhanced crop plants. Ceres aims to become a leading provider of important plant gene traits and products to the agrochemical, chemical, health care, food, feed and fiber industries.
Genset S.A. is a global genomics company that integrates state-of-the-art genomic and molecular biology technologies to provide pharmaceutical companies with patented genomics information relevant for the discovery, development and marketing of novel therapeutics. Genset's objective is to enter into multiple focused strategic partnerships to assist pharmaceutical companies throughout the drug life cycle. Its commercial portfolio includes gene discovery programs in CNS disorders, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and metabolic disorders; pharmacogenomics programs for high-throughput target validation and drug response; and gene libraries.
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