Combining multiple genes increasingly seen as essential for addressing complex traits
Rehovot, Israel – March 6, 2014 – Evogene Ltd. (NYSE; TASE: EVGN), a leading plant genomics company specializing in improving crop productivity for the food, feed and biofuel industries, announced today enhanced capabilities for gene stacking prediction with the introduction of PlaNet (Plant Networks) version 2.0 computational platform. The upgraded version includes more than doubling of the platform’s interaction data sources and types, and improved algorithms for data analysis. Gene stacking prediction refers to the combination of multiple genes to improve a particular trait, or several traits, in order to enhance the productivity of seed products, either via biotechnology or advanced breeding applications. Gene stacking is increasingly seen by the agriculture industry as essential for enhancing the efficacy of complex traits such as yield improvement.
PlaNet is part of Evogene’s Gene2ProductTM multi-platform solution designed to improve trait efficacy by high throughput optimization of a candidate gene’s functionality in target crops. More specifically, PlaNet is designed to predict the most promising genes to combine with the selected candidate gene to improve a desired trait. The platform applies advanced algorithms on multiple interaction data layers derived from various data sources and types. Evogene capabilities in the field of gene stacking utilize the company’s proprietary database which today incorporates and integrates more than five years of tailored-generated data for the development of optimal multi-gene prediction models.
PlaNet version 2.0 substantially improves gene stacking prediction capabilities by enhancing the quality and scope of the platform’s interaction data and the accuracy of its analysis tools. This is accomplished through more than doubling of the platform’s data sources and types, incorporating new and improved algorithms for data mining, and significant advancements to the platform’s statistical analysis capabilities. Through the utilization of scoring and subsequent ranking of hundreds of millions of possible gene combinations, the platform is able to prioritize the selected combinations according to their predicted ability to improve the efficacy of a given gene. “PlaNet forms an integral part of our proposition to our partners and is currently being adopted across our main product programs,” said Ofer Haviv, President and CEO of Evogene. “Furthermore, Evogene is already in advance stages of development of the next generation of our gene stacking capabilities with a mining platform that will allow us to evaluate and prioritize multi-gene combinations at the initiation of the gene selection process.”
About Evogene Ltd.
Evogene (NYSE, TASE: EVGN) is a plant genomics company, utilizing a proprietary integrated technology infrastructure to enhance seed traits underlying crop productivity. Evogene offers a complete solution for crop productivity improvement through biotechnology and advanced breeding using a unique technology infrastructure that is based on a deep scientific understanding of plant genomics and proprietary computational capabilities. The Company has strategic collaborations with world-leading agricultural companies to develop improved seed traits in relation to yield
and a-biotic stress (such as tolerance to drought), and biotic stress (such as resistance to disease), in key crops as corn, soybean, wheat and rice. In addition, Evogene has earlier stage operations in agriculture chemicals and seeds for second generation feedstock for biodiesel. For more information, please visit www.evogene.com
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” relating to future events. These statements may be identified by words such as “may”, “expects”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “believes”, “scheduled”, “estimates” or words of similar meaning. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, describe opinions about future events, involve certain risks and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance. Therefore, actual future results, performance or achievements of Evogene may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, many of which beyond Evogene’s control, including, without limitation, those risk factors contained in Evogene’s reports filed with the appropriate securities authority. Evogene disclaims any obligation or commitment to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments or changes in expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions.
Contact:
Karen Mazor, Evogene
Director, Public and Investor Relations
T: +972-54-2288 039
karen.mazor@evogene.com