Affymetrix Launches Axiom Genome-Wide ASI Array For Maximized Coverage of East Asian Populations

Affymetrix, Inc. announces the launch of the Axiom™ Genome-Wide ASI Array, the first commercial product to provide maximum power for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in East Asian populations. This array is the second catalog release for the Axiom™ Genotyping Solution, which includes a suite of population-optimized arrays for genomic studies that will be delivered in the next year.

The Axiom Genome-Wide ASI Array enables researchers to characterize the genetic basis of disease in Asian populations and also offers high genomic coverage for Caucasian populations, making it a powerful, high-throughput tool for ancestry, population, and personal genomic studies.

“There is evidence that differences in disease frequencies and intensity within different populations may have a genetic basis,” said Dr. Edison Liu, Executive Director of the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), which is using the Axiom Genome-Wide ASI Array in ongoing studies to explore the genetic basis of disease in East Asian populations.

“The increase in knowledge of population-specific human genetic variation is paying off with the creation of GWAS arrays optimized for specific populations,” said Dr. Liu, adding that he is pleased with this advanced approach to genome-wide array design.

“This offers researchers increased power to detect population-specific allele associations. With the dramatically increased intensity of research in population genetics in Asia, the Axiom Genome-Wide ASI Array will offer tailored precision for the identification of disease alleles.”

The Genome-Wide ASI Array optimizes genomic coverage with known disease association markers, chromosomes X and Y, mitochondrial genomes, and ADME genes. Content was drawn from the 1000 Genomes Project as well as Han Chinese and Tokyo Japanese data made available through the International HapMap Project.

Dr. Jianjun Liu, Group Leader and Associate Director of the Human Genetics group at GIS, is pleased with the performance of the Axiom Genome-Wide ASI Array. “We have run more than 1,000 samples with average call rates above 99.7 percent and HapMap concordance in excess of 99.8 percent,” said Dr. Jiu.

The complete Axiom Genotyping Solution consists of Axiom ASI Array Plates, complete Axiom Reagent Kits, an automated target preparation station developed jointly by Affymetrix and Beckman Coulter, and the GeneTitan® Instrument. The GeneTitan Instrument integrates a hybridization oven, fluidics processing, CCD imaging device, and analysis software for maximum data reproducibility, user productivity, and scalability. Scientists can run more than 760 samples per week with minimal user intervention, a significant advantage over competing products.

“The ASI Array offers a complete solution to researchers looking for novel genetic variations associated with complex disease in East Asian populations,” said Kevin King, president and CEO. “This solution is ideally suited to customers interested in exploring the genetic complexities underlying disease in Asian populations. We look forward to further expanding the Axiom family of genotyping products in the future.”