Genome Screening Platform Based on Ancestral Mapping

A new platform that allows whole-genome scanning in large heterogeneous populations will help researchers identify new disease and drug response genes much faster and less expensively.

The platform, called Admixmap, is based on years of research into population genomics structure and human ancestry conducted with Dr. Mark Shriver of Pennsylvania State University (University Park, USA). The focus of the research was to create an original type of human genome map based on validated and characterized ancestry informative markers, or snAIMS, which are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of significant allele frequency differences among the world's various continental population groups. This map is combined with other compositions and highly specialized analytical algorithms to constitute Admixmap. The platform is based on a process called mapping by admixture linkage disequilibrium (MALD) or admixture mapping (am).

Admixmap is the product of DNAPrint Genomics, Inc. (Sarasota, FL, USA). The company says by using Admixmap, it can identify new disease and drug response genes 10 times faster and 1,000 times less expensively than existing methods. DNAPrint intends to partner this new platform with biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and academic organizations to identify new drug targets and diagnostic tests.

"Because Admixmap is the first platform to enable cost-effective whole genome scans in heterogeneous populations, we expect it to have a profound impact on genomics-based drug and diagnostics design and we consider its development to represent an important milestone in human genome research.”





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DNAPrint Genomics
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