Sigma(R) Life Science Extends Research Model Portfolio Into Oncology and Carcinogenicity Screening; Introduces World's First p53 Knockout Rat
ST. LOUIS, April 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sigma(R) Life Science, the innovative biological products and services brand of Sigma-Aldrich(R) , today introduced the world's first p53 'knockout' rat model, an important development that is expected to, due to the rat's closer physiological and metabolic similarity to humans, significantly improve timelines for carcinogenicity screening and reduce time to market for therapeutics.
"Over the past twelve months, SAGE Labs has been developing novel rat models, in which specific genes associated with defined disease conditions are deactivated or knocked-out, for use in disease research, especially in areas where the existing mouse models poorly mimic human disease," said Dr. Edward Weinstein, director of SAGE Labs. "The addition of the p53 model extends our offering into oncology research and builds upon our existing portfolio, which targets applications across a number of fields including physiology, endocrinology, neurology and toxicology. Using our proprietary CompoZr(TM) Zinc Finger Nuclease platform, we are able to develop mouse or rat models without the need for embryonic stem cells. This enables us to create founder animals in about four to five months, which is about a third of the time it would take using a traditional approach."
The colony of p53 knockout rats is currently being expanded and it is anticipated that cohorts of homozygous p53 knockout animals will be available to ship beginning in July 2010. Parties interested in reserving a cohort to characterize can register their interest or learn more by visiting http://www.sageresearchmodels.com/research-models/priority-partners.
About Sigma Life Science: Sigma Life Science is a Sigma-Aldrich brand that represents Sigma's leadership in innovative biological products and services for the global life science market and offers an array of biologically-rich products and reagents that researchers use in scientific investigation. Product areas include biomolecules, genomics and functional genomics, cells and cell-based assays, transgenics, protein assays, stem cell research, epigenetics and custom services/oligonucleotides. Sigma Life Science also provides an extensive range critical bioessentials like biochemicals, antibiotics, buffers, carbohydrates, enzymes, forensic tools, hematology and histology, nucleotides, amino acids and their derivatives, and cell culture media.
About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostic and other high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 38 countries and has 7,700 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Innovation and Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning website at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.
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