Bar Harbor BioTechnology Inc. has launched its new line of human StellARray products for gene expression research. This initial offering of 43 different biological pathways for scientists to select from includes many major human diseases. Configured to perform gene expression or gene copy number experiments these new Real-Time PCR arrays are the first of their kind in the field of gene expression research.

"Scientists researching human diseases like obesity, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease have a new method for detecting subtle changes in how a group of genes are expressed. That could lead to a breakthrough in their research," said Robert Phelps, president, Bar Harbor BioTechnology Inc.

In September 2006, Bar Harbor BioTechnology Inc. spun off from The Jackson Laboratory taking with it an exclusive license to commercialise the Global Pattern Recognition algorithm. Used in conjunction with StellARrays scientists can obtain a new way to see small yet significant changes in gene expression.

"It is very similar to taking an image of the night sky and comparing it to another image taken at a different time. Most of the stars will align. It's the small shifts or changes that dramatically show up that proves to be significant," said Dan Shaffer, VP, Production.

The company also unveiled plans to expand its existing product selection of 46 mouse and 43 human Real-Time PCR arrays to include areas of cancer, metabolism, immunology, stem cell, and neurology research. Since its initial entrance into the gene expression market on October 1, 2007, the company reports selling StellARrays to major research facilities including Harvard Medical School, National Institute for Health, and Merck Pharmaceuticals Inc.