CARLSBAD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE), a provider of innovative life science solutions, today announced that it has signed an exclusive license agreement for ErrASE, a commercially available DNA error-correction kit developed by Novici Biotech LLC to increase accuracy and accelerate the pace of research in the field of synthetic biology.
“A prerequisite of building higher-scale DNA assemblies is the availability of tools to enable accuracy in the final DNA sequence”
Under the terms of the agreement, Life Technologies plans to integrate the error-correction technology into its synthetic biology offerings and also retains all rights to sub-license it. ErrASE will remain available for research purposes through Novici until the product is launched under the Life Technologies brand.
ErrASE is an enzymatic technology that dramatically reduces errors in synthetic gene sequences by detecting and correcting mismatched based pairs that can be introduced either by short DNA synthesis or during PCR assembly. Accuracy in the genetic code is paramount in synthetic biology, one aspect of which involves the engineering of synthetic genes in an effort to create new organisms — such as bacteria, algae or even plants — that can generate fuels and chemicals currently being made from fossil fuels. The innovative technology used in ErrASE allows for larger, more accurate synthetic DNA sequences, saving researchers time and cost associated with inaccuracies in the gene synthesis process.
“A prerequisite of building higher-scale DNA assemblies is the availability of tools to enable accuracy in the final DNA sequence,” said Nathan Wood, Vice President of Genomics for Life Technologies. “ErrASE forms one part of a larger suite of DNA synthesis and assembly tools that fulfill the growing needs of synthetic biology researchers.”
This licensing agreement is part of the company’s larger strategic initiative to expand its presence in the rapidly evolving synthetic biology market, which is estimated to reach up to $2.4 billion by 2013, according to a report by BCC Research. By providing highly efficient and reliable tools and services, Life Technologies is enabling researchers around the world to address new technology applications in energy, chemical production, bioremediation and agriculture.
About Life Technologies (www.lifetechnologies.com)
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of $3.3 billion in 2009, employs approximately 9,000 people, has a presence in approximately 160 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,900 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc., and manufactures both in-vitro diagnostic products and research use only-labeled products. For more information on how we are making a difference, please visit our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com.
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About Novici Biotech (www.novicibiotech.com)
Novici Biotech LLC is a private biotechnology company providing synthetic biology tools and directed evolution services to advance the product-focused goals of our clients in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial fields. Novici’s patented GRAMMR technology for high-resolution genetic reassortment is at the heart of our capability to enhance gene functionality at both the nucleotide and protein level. Novici is focused on bringing to market these unique synthetic biology technologies, including the capability to empirically optimize the codon usage structure of any gene to endow it with optimal expression yield, protein folding integrity, and cell type compatibility, and to optimize protein structure and function for commercial use. For more information, please visit our website: https://www.novicibiotech.com.