Affymetrix Inc announced the broad availability of two new GeneChip brand products for DNA analysis: the Mapping 10K Array for whole genome SNP analysis and the CustomSeq Resequencing Array for large-scale, custom resequencing projects. The products were successfully tested by nearly 50 early access customers during the past nine months in a variety of applications, including genetic linkage analysis, mitochondrial genome resequencing and cancer cell genotyping.

"Using the Mapping 10K we found a disease locus in a week's time," said Dr. Peter Nuernberg, Director of the Gene Mapping Center at the Max-Delbruck Center in Berlin. "With conventional microsatellite analysis this usually takes several months. The Mapping 10K array technology is superior to microsatellites and will change the way we do genetic linkage analysis."

"In less than two weeks, I completely resequenced 20 mitochondrial genomes using CustomSeq arrays," said Dr. Anirban Maitra, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University. "I used only three PCR amplifications, dramatically simplifying the sample prep required. Data analysis proved to be faster and more accurate than with capillary sequencing. By enabling the individual researchers to conduct large-scale sequencing experiments in their own labs, CustomSeq arrays will facilitate the adoption of complete sequence analysis for clinical applications."

Affymetrix DNA analysis products use the same GeneChip technology that revolutionized mRNA gene expression analysis, enabling researchers to understand both the function and variation of whole genomes on a single, integrated platform. The Mapping 10K Array and CustomSeq Resequencing Array bring more information to the benchtop, creating an opportunity for both individuals and institutions to conduct large-scale research.