Affymetrix
Encyclopedia
Affymetrix is a company that manufactures DNA microarray
s; it is based in Santa Clara, California
, United States. The company was founded by Dr. Stephen Fodor
in 1992. It began as a unit in Affymax N.V. in 1991 by Fodor's group, which had in the late 1980s developed methods for fabricating DNA microarrays, called "GeneChips" according to the Affymetrix trademark, using semiconductor manufacturing techniques. The company's first product, an HIV
genotyping
GeneChip, was introduced in 1994 and the company went public
in 1996. As a result of its pioneering work and the ensuing popularity of microarray products, Affymetrix derives significant benefit from its patent portfolio in this area.
Acquisitions have included Genetic MicroSystems for slide-based microarrays and scanners,
Neomorphic for bioinformatics
,
ParAllele Bioscience for custom SNP genotyping
,
USB
/Anatrace for biochemical reagents,
and Panomics and True Materials to expand its offering of low to mid-plex applications.
In 2000, Perlegen Sciences spun out from Affymetrix to focus on wafer-scale genomics for massive data creation and collection required for characterizing population variance of genomic markers and expression for the drug discovery process.
Affymetrix makes quartz chips for analysis of DNA Microarray
s. These chips are sold under the trademarked name GeneChip. Affymetrix's GeneChips assist researchers in quickly scanning for the presence of particular genes in a biological sample. Within this area, Affymetrix is focused on oligonucleotide microarrays. These microarrays are used to determine which genes exist in a sample by detecting specific pieces of mRNA. A single chip can be used to do thousands of experiments in parallel. Chips can be used only once.
Affymetrix sells both mass produced GeneChips intended to match scientifically important parts of human and other animal genomes. Affymetrix manufactures its GeneChips using photolithography
. The company also manufactures machinery for high speed analysis of biological samples.
Affymetrix GeneChip Operating Software
is a software system for managing Affymetrix microarray data.
Competitors in the DNA Microarray business include Illumina
, GE Healthcare
, Applied Biosystems
, Beckman Coulter
, Eppendorf
Biochip Systems http://www.eppendorf-biochips.com, and Agilent. There are also various inexpensive plastic-based technologies under development in small companies and laboratories around the world. It has been widely speculated that mass-produced plastic chips can be produced at lower prices than Affymetrix's quartz chips.
Affymetrix has established a licensing program to make its intellectual property accessible to stimulate the broad commercialization of genome analysis technologies. They have several collaboration relationships with other companies that utilize their patented GeneChip technology.
DNA microarray
A DNA microarray is a collection of microscopic DNA spots attached to a solid surface. Scientists use DNA microarrays to measure the expression levels of large numbers of genes simultaneously or to genotype multiple regions of a genome...
s; it is based in Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
, United States. The company was founded by Dr. Stephen Fodor
Stephen Fodor
Dr. Stephen P. A. "Steve" Fodor is the founder of Affymetrix, a company that produces DNA microarrays to screen gene expression and genetic variations in large portions of such genomes as human, rat, and mouse, which is currently widely used in research, and could be used to screen patients for...
in 1992. It began as a unit in Affymax N.V. in 1991 by Fodor's group, which had in the late 1980s developed methods for fabricating DNA microarrays, called "GeneChips" according to the Affymetrix trademark, using semiconductor manufacturing techniques. The company's first product, an HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
genotyping
Genotype
The genotype is the genetic makeup of a cell, an organism, or an individual usually with reference to a specific character under consideration...
GeneChip, was introduced in 1994 and the company went public
Public company
This is not the same as a Government-owned corporation.A public company or publicly traded company is a limited liability company that offers its securities for sale to the general public, typically through a stock exchange, or through market makers operating in over the counter markets...
in 1996. As a result of its pioneering work and the ensuing popularity of microarray products, Affymetrix derives significant benefit from its patent portfolio in this area.
Acquisitions have included Genetic MicroSystems for slide-based microarrays and scanners,
Neomorphic for bioinformatics
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
,
ParAllele Bioscience for custom SNP genotyping
SNP genotyping
SNP genotyping is the measurement of genetic variations of single nucleotide polymorphisms between members of a species. It is a form of genotyping, which is the measurement of more general genetic variation. SNPs are one of the most common types of genetic variation...
,
USB
USB Corporation
USB Corporation offers life science products for use in basic research, drug discovery and molecular diagnostics. The company history reaches back to the 1980s, as United States Biochemical, known for Sequenase DNA Polymerase, a genetically modified enzyme used to develop the first easy-to-use DNA...
/Anatrace for biochemical reagents,
and Panomics and True Materials to expand its offering of low to mid-plex applications.
In 2000, Perlegen Sciences spun out from Affymetrix to focus on wafer-scale genomics for massive data creation and collection required for characterizing population variance of genomic markers and expression for the drug discovery process.
Description of product
DNA microarray
A DNA microarray is a collection of microscopic DNA spots attached to a solid surface. Scientists use DNA microarrays to measure the expression levels of large numbers of genes simultaneously or to genotype multiple regions of a genome...
s. These chips are sold under the trademarked name GeneChip. Affymetrix's GeneChips assist researchers in quickly scanning for the presence of particular genes in a biological sample. Within this area, Affymetrix is focused on oligonucleotide microarrays. These microarrays are used to determine which genes exist in a sample by detecting specific pieces of mRNA. A single chip can be used to do thousands of experiments in parallel. Chips can be used only once.
Affymetrix sells both mass produced GeneChips intended to match scientifically important parts of human and other animal genomes. Affymetrix manufactures its GeneChips using photolithography
Photolithography
Photolithography is a process used in microfabrication to selectively remove parts of a thin film or the bulk of a substrate. It uses light to transfer a geometric pattern from a photomask to a light-sensitive chemical "photoresist", or simply "resist," on the substrate...
. The company also manufactures machinery for high speed analysis of biological samples.
Affymetrix GeneChip Operating Software
Affymetrix GeneChip Operating Software
Affymetrix GeneChip Operating Software is a software system for managing Affymetrix microarray data. It captures and analyzes the array images, provides workflow tracking of data, manages experiment data, and carries out basic expression analysis....
is a software system for managing Affymetrix microarray data.
Competitors in the DNA Microarray business include Illumina
Illumina (company)
Illumina, Inc. is a company incorporated in April 1998 that develops, manufactures and markets integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function. Using its technologies, the company provides a line of products and services that serve the sequencing, genotyping and...
, GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare is a division of GE Technology Infrastructure, which is itself a division of General Electric . It employs more than 46,000 people worldwide and is headquartered in Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. GE Healthcare is the first GE business segment to be headquartered...
, Applied Biosystems
Applied Biosystems
Applied Biosystems, Inc. started as GeneCo , was the name of a pioneer biotechnology company founded in 1981 in Foster City, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area...
, Beckman Coulter
Beckman Coulter
Beckman Coulter Inc., is a company that makes biomedical laboratory instruments. Founded by Caltech professor Arnold O. Beckman in 1935 as National Technical Laboratories to commercialize a pH meter that he had invented, the company eventually grew to employ over 10,000 people, with $2.4 billion in...
, Eppendorf
Eppendorf (company)
Eppendorf is a provider of equipment for the field of biotechnology. The company develops, produces and distributes devices and systems for use in life science research laboratories worldwide....
Biochip Systems http://www.eppendorf-biochips.com, and Agilent. There are also various inexpensive plastic-based technologies under development in small companies and laboratories around the world. It has been widely speculated that mass-produced plastic chips can be produced at lower prices than Affymetrix's quartz chips.
Affymetrix has established a licensing program to make its intellectual property accessible to stimulate the broad commercialization of genome analysis technologies. They have several collaboration relationships with other companies that utilize their patented GeneChip technology.
External links
- Affymetrix Homepage
- DNAVision, Gene Logic - Affymetrix official service provider.