Singapore, Dec 03, 2009: GATC Biotech, Europe’s leading service provider of DNA sequencing and bioinformatics and Complete Genomics, announced the execution of a research collaboration agreement to sequence several human genomes from samples provided by GATC. The companies will collaborate to analyze the data obtained from the research project.

Under the collaboration agreement Complete Genomics will sequence and assemble the genomes and provide GATC with detected variants including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and indels. GATC will then perform additional bioinformatics analysis such as comparison of the variant data of different genomes.

In addition, the company will refine the data with the aim of providing researchers and clinicians with relevant genomic details to advance their understanding of the genetic causes of disease. The pilot project has started and the first sequencing data will be evaluated by GATC soon.

“GATC aims to continually offer our customers the most innovative, efficient and integrated sequencing technologies and applications for their research projects. To achieve our 100-Human-Genome-Project goal, evaluating Complete Genomics’ human genome sequencing technology is a logical step,” explains Peter Pohl, CEO of GATC Biotech.

“We are pleased to be working with GATC Biotech on this project which will further demonstrate the value of our large-scale, high-quality, low-cost human genome sequencing service,” said Dr. Clifford Reid, chairman, president, and CEO of Complete Genomics.