Evogene Ltd. Announces Launch of ATHLETE 3.0 Gene Discovery Technology
REHOVOT, ISRAEL--(Marketwire - August 02, 2010) -
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- Additional New Data Layers -- ATHLETE 3.0 incorporates new data types and additional layers of biological data. These include protein to protein interactions, transcription networks, SNPs data, Metabolomics levels and non-coding RNA data as well as phenotypic data based on large scale field experiments. ATHLETE 3.0 data mining tools now perform across all these data layers and cross-species, giving unprecedented data resolution to improve prediction reliability.
- More Plant Species and Genome Sequences -- ATHLETE 3.0 integrates key data types of over 130 plant species and over 20 full sequenced annotated genome sequences. ATHLETE 3.0 also supports next generation sequencing data, allowing more effective prediction of new genes based on high throughput analysis of enormous amounts of short sequence data.
- Advanced Computational Analysis Tools -- ATHLETE 3.0 incorporates new data mining tools, algorithms and methods to improve prediction capabilities. These include tools for genome wide association studies, unique analysis of phenotypic data, gene to gene interaction maps and further improvements of expression analysis tools.
The ATHLETE 3.0 is now being integrated into Evogene's gene discovery programs, providing novel genes for the improvement of key traits, such as yield, drought, fertilizer utilization and plant diseases to Evogene's collaborators, which include world leading seed companies.
Mr. Hagai Karchi, Evogene's EVP Development and CTO, stated: "We have been working continuously to improve the ATHLETE tools to further enhance Evogene's position at the forefront of plant genomics. These improvements, which are supported, among others, by an increase in our plant biology and bioinformatics professional staff, enable us to adjust our technology and gain knowledge from the enormous amounts of data becoming available today. The ATHLETE is a key component of our current collaborations with world leading seed companies, and we believe that with the availability of ATHLETE 3.0, we shall accelerate our capabilities to provide our partners with high quality candidate genes to improve desired key plant traits."
About ATHLETE
ATHLETE is Evogene's proprietary computational technology, which allows rapid discovery and prioritization of hundreds of plant genes relevant to a target trait of choice. The technology is applicable for different traits, including yield, stress tolerance and agronomic traits, and various crops. A gene discovery process utilizing the ATHLETE technology lasts approximately 6 to 9 months, and includes:
(1) Trait Understanding and development of trait improvement strategies;
(2) Database Assembly of a wide, comparative genomic data from various sources; and
(3) Data Mining using proprietary algorithmic tools
Since the launch of the first version of the ATHLETE in 2006, Evogene has been continuously investing in the development of new tools and methodologies in order to enhance its prediction capabilities. ATHLETE 3.0 is an advanced next generation version of ATHLETE being introduced in 2010, incorporating more and additional data types and enhanced computational tools and methodologies.
About Evogene
Evogene is a world leading developer of improved plant traits for the agriculture and biofuel industries through the use of plant genomics. The company's technology platform is based on a unique computational core technology for gene discovery, the ATHLETE, and high throughput systems for gene validation. Evogene's development programs focus on the improvement of high-commercial value plant traits, such as yield, biotic and a-biotic stresses tolerance, and the improvement of plants specifically for biofuel uses. Evogene is collaborating with world leading seed companies in order to introduce its technology into key commercial crops. Evogene's headquarters are in Rehovot, Israel, and its stock is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: EVGN). For additional information, please visit Evogene's website at www.evogene.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements." These statements include words like "may," "expects," "believes," "scheduled" and "intends," and they describe opinions about future events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Evogene Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.