Genetic Technologies forms strategic alliance with MetaMorphix

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., Feb. 27 - Genetic Technologies Ltd. and MetaMorphix, Inc. announced Monday that the two companies have formed a strategic business alliance.

In 2004, MetaMorphix took a license to Genetic's non-coding patents, and since then the two companies have maintained close contact. Genetic and MetaMorphix have both pursued the development of new technologies with applications in human health and diagnostics, as well as in animal genetics and genomics, according to a company news release.

Genetic and MetaMorphix recently identified several overlapping interests and will now explore the joint commercialization of these new opportunities, the release said.

They will also explore ways to optimize the geographic advantage of Genetic's testing lab in Melbourne, Australia, and MetaMorphix's testing lab in Davis, Calif.

Immediate benefits for Genetic include the early introduction into Australia and New Zealand of MetaMorphix's new genetic tests for livestock and companion animals, including polling in cattle and the ability to genetically confirm a dog's breed.

Horn-polling markers allow cattle breeders to identify and breed-out cattle born with horns, a major cause of injury to other cattle, especially during transportation. By performing a simple genetic test on breeding stock, cattle breeders will soon be able to overcome this problem, the release said.

MetaMorphix has also developed specific DNA-based tests that can distinguish between 35 different purebred dog types. This will permit the breed of a dog to be confirmed genetically, if suspected of falling into a breed regulated by the authorities.

MetaMorphix develops new genetic markers and is based in Beltsville, Md.

Genetic Technologies, based in Melbourne, Australia, recognizes important new applications for "non-coding" DNA.

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