NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was received yesterday from our friends at AncestryDNA.
AncestryDNA and Calico to Research the Genetics of Human Lifespan
Collaboration Will Analyze Family History and Genetics to Facilitate Development of Cutting-Edge Therapeutics
PROVO, Utah and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AncestryDNA,
an industry leader in consumer genetics, and Calico, a company focused
on longevity research and therapeutics, today announced an effort to
investigate human heredity of lifespan. Together, they will evaluate
anonymized data from millions of public family trees and a growing
database of over one million genetic samples. Financial terms have not
been disclosed.
AncestryDNA
and Calico will work together to analyze and investigate the role of
genetics and its influences in families experiencing unusual longevity
using Ancestry's proprietary databases, tools and algorithms. Calico
will then focus its efforts to develop and commercialize any potential
therapeutics that emerge from the analysis.
"On
the heels of our AncestryHealth launch and our one million genotyped
customers milestone for AncestryDNA, we're excited to announce this
collaboration with Calico to research and develop life changing
solutions," said Ken Chahine, Executive Vice President and Head of DNA
and Health. "We have laid the groundwork for this effort through the
combination of an unmatched family history database, one of the fastest
growing genetic databases, and a strong and talented team of computer
scientists and professional genealogists."
AncestryDNA
can provide access to a unique combination of resources that will
enable Calico to develop potentially groundbreaking therapeutic
solutions. The extensive research period will identify common patterns
in longevity and human heredity through pedigree data.
"Our
common experience suggests that there may be hereditary factors
underlying longevity, but finding the genes responsible using standard
techniques has proven elusive," commented David Botstein, Calico's Chief
Scientific Officer and member of the US National Academy of Sciences.
"This is an extraordinary opportunity to address a fundamental
unanswered question in longevity research using high quality human
pedigrees."
About AncestryDNA
AncestryDNA
is owned and operated by Ancestry.com DNA, LLC, a subsidiary of
Ancestry.com, LLC. AncestryDNA uses a simple test to analyze an
individual's DNA. AncestryDNA offers the potential of identifying new
insights into people's ancient ancestry to help them collaborate with
distant cousins and make even more discoveries in their family history.
For more information visit www.ancestrydna.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This
press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include a
variety of factors, some of which are beyond the company's control. In
particular, such risks and uncertainties include the company's ability
to add tools and features, and provide value to satisfy customer demand.
Information concerning additional factors that could cause events or
results to differ materially is contained under the caption "Risk
Factors" in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for Ancestry.com LLC for
the period ended March 31, 2015, which was filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on May 1, 2015, and in discussions in other of the
company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These
forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our
views as of any subsequent date and we assume no obligation to publicly
update or revise these forward-looking statements.
About Calico Life Sciences
Calico
(Calico Life Sciences LLC) is a Google-funded research and development
company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies to increase
our understanding of the biology that controls lifespan. Calico will use
that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead
longer and healthier lives. Visit www.calicolabs.com.