Celera
Genomics
Sequences
More
Than
One
Billion
Base
Pairs
Of
Mouse
Genome
Mouse
and
Other
Organisms
Essential
for
Interpretation
of
Human
Genome
ROCKVILLE,
MD,
June
1,
2000—Celera
Genomics
(NYSE:
CRA),
a
PE
Corporation
business,
announced
today
that
it
has
sequenced
approximately
1.15
billion
base
pairs—letters
of
genetic
code—of
mouse
DNA.
Celera
began
to
sequence
the
mouse
genome
on
April
6,
2000.
A
key
component
of
Celera’s
business
model
is
to
provide
subscribers
with
the
ability
to
compare
genomes
from
various
organisms
(comparative
genomics).
The
comparison
of
the
mouse,
Drosophila,
human,
and
other
model
organisms
genomes
is
expected
to
open
many
new
avenues
of
research
into
the
mechanisms
of
gene
conservation
and
regulation,
which
could
lead
to
a
better
understanding
of
gene
function
and
disease
mechanisms.
This
project
is
of
critical
importance
to
biomedical
researchers
using
the
mouse
as
a
model
organism
for
studies
of
human
biology
and
medicine.
Having
access
to
the
mouse
genome
should
allow
researchers
to
make
important
discoveries
in
the
regulation
of
human
genes
based
on
common
structure
and
mechanisms
shared
with
mouse
genes.
“The
availability
of
the
mouse
genome
is
crucial
to
understanding
the
human
genome.
Mice
can
function
as
translators
of
the
human
genome
in
that
changes
in
their
genetic
material
can
teach
us
how
changes
in
the
letters
of
human
DNA
lead
to
predisposition
to
disease
and
responses
to
medical
treatments,”
said
J.
Craig
Venter,
Ph.D.,
Celera’s
president
and
chief
scientific
officer.
Celera
is
sequencing
the
129/SvJ
strain
of
mouse,
which
is
commonly
used
by
researchers
to
manipulate
specific
mouse
genes
to
determine
their
function.
The
mouse
is
thought
to
have
roughly
the
same
number
of
base
pairs
as
the
human,
approximately
3
billion.
Celera
will
be
providing
the
mouse
genome
to
its
pharmaceutical,
biotechnology
and
academic
subscribers
via
the
company’s
web-based
Celera
Discovery
System®.
Human
Genome
Milestone:
On
January
10,
2000,
Celera
announced
it
had
compiled
data
covering
90%
of
the
human
genome.
On
April
6,
2000,
Celera
announced
it
had
completed
the
sequencing
phase
of
the
genome
from
one
human
being.
The
genome
assembly
phase
is
now
progressing
on
schedule.
Celera
is
beginning
to
deliver
partial
assemblies
to
its
database
subscribers
and
expects
to
announce
the
assembly
of
the
human
genome
in
June
2000.
An
assembled
genome
is
one
in
which
the
location
and
exact
order
of
the
letters
of
genetic
code
along
the
chromosomes
is
known.
After
assembly,
the
company
will
go
through
a
phase
known
as
annotation
whereby
the
located
genes
are
further
analyzed
to
begin
the
process
of
understanding
their
particular
function.
The
company
is
on
target
to
publish
the
consensus
genome
later
this
year.
PE
Corporation
comprises
two
operating
groups.
The
PE
Biosystems
Group
(NYSE:
PEB),
with
sales
of
$1.2
billion
during
fiscal
1999,
develops
and
markets
instrument-based
systems,
reagents,
software
and
contract
services
to
the
life
science
industry
and
research
community.
PE
Biosystems
is
headquartered
in
Foster
City,
CA,
and
comprises
four
divisions:
Applied
Biosystems,
PE
Informatics,
PerSeptive
Biosystems,
and
Tropix.
The
Celera
Genomics
Group
(NYSE:
CRA),
headquartered
in
Rockville,
MD,
intends
to
become
the
definitive
source
of
genomic
and
related
medical
information.
Information
about
the
Company,
including
reports
and
other
information
filed
by
the
Company
with
the
Securities
and
Exchange
Commission,
is
available
on
the
worldwide
web
at
www.pecorporation.com
or
by
phoning
800.762.6923.
Certain
statements
in
this
press
release
are
forward-looking.
These
may
be
identified
by
the
use
of
forward-looking
words
or
phrases
such
as
“believe,”
“expect,”
“anticipate,”
“should,”
“intend,”
“planned,”
“estimated,”
and
“potential,”
among
others.
These
forward-looking
statements
are
based
on
PE
Corporation’s
current
expectations.
The
Private
Securities
Litigation
Reform
Act
of
1995
provides
a
“safe
harbor”
for
such
forward-looking
statements.
In
order
to
comply
with
the
terms
of
the
safe
harbor,
PE
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.
The
risks
and
uncertainties
that
may
affect
the
operations,
performance,
development,
and
results
of
Celera
Genomics’
businesses
include
but
are
not
limited
to
(1)
operating
losses
to
date;
(2)
a
unique
and
developing
business
plan;
(3)
dependence
on
the
timely
completion
of
the
sequencing
and
assembly
of
the
human
genome;
(4)
uncertainty
of
revenue
growth;
(5)
unproven
use
of
genomics
information
to
develop
products;
(6)
intense
competition
in
the
evolving
genomics
industry;
(7)
dependence
on
customers
in
and
subject
to
the
risks
of
the
pharmaceutical
and
biotechnology
industries;
(8)
heavy
reliance
on
strategic
relationship
with
the
PE
Biosystems
group;
(9)
potential
product
liability
claims;
(10)
liabilities
related
to
use
of
hazardous
materials;
(11)
lengthy
sales
cycle;
(12)
dependence
on
the
unique
expertise
of
its
scientific
and
management
staff;
(13)
uncertainty
of
patent,
copyright
and
intellectual
property
protection;
(14)
dependence
on
computer
hardware,
software,
and
internet
applications;
(15)
access
to
biological
materials;
(16)
legal,
ethical
and
social
issues
affecting
demand
for
products;
(17)
disruptions
caused
by
rapid
growth
of
the
business;
(18)
government
regulation
of
its
products
and
services;
(19)
risks
of
future
acquisitions;
and
(20)
other
factors
that
might
be
described
from
time
to
time
in
PE
Corporation's
filings
with
the
Securities
and
Exchange
Commission.
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