Development
Genescient uses a model animal approach to rapidly scale up its development efforts. Starting with its Drosophila platform (and soon a long-lived mouse platform), Genescient applies advanced genomic analysis techniques to take full advantage of the power of its proprietary Drosophila lines in the search for cures to chronic human disorders.
Studies in the genetic model Drosophila melanogaster have provided much valuable information for human biology and disease. Past contributions of Drosophila to the understanding of human biology include decisive studies on genetic mapping, the chromosomal theory of heredity, chromosomal polymorphisms, mutagenic effects of ionizing radiation, dosage compensation of sex-linked genes, genetic recombination, the basic genes involved in embryonic development, and the mutagenic effects of chemicals. The many conserved similarities between Drosophila and humans has made Drosophila an excellent organism for the study of human genetic diseases such Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, Huntington disease, and cell malignancy. All of these studies have revealed that Drosophila and humans share many basic processes. When one combines the conserved basic biology with the short lifespans and ease of genetic manipulation, Drosophila is considered by the experts as one of the best model animals for studying human aging and disease.
With the complete sequencing of the human and Drosophila genomes, systematic analysis of the Drosophila genome has revealed many human disease-causing genes in Drosophila. Surprisingly, some three-fourths of the human disease genes are closely related to Drosophila genes. The human-like genes in Drosophila have been linked to nearly all of the age-related disorders including: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, other neurodegenerative conditions, vision and hearing disorders, late-onset diabetes, cancer, immune decline, and cardiovascular disease.
Genescient has a unique advantage in using Drosophila as a test model because we own the longest lived Drosophila lines (the ‘O’ and ‘Super O’ lines), which live some 5-fold longer than wild-type ‘B’ line Drosophila from which they were evolved. Genescient has compared the gene expression pattern between the ‘B’ and ‘O’ lines to identify the human-like genes that are changed to provide longevity. Using the power of genomic sequencing, Genescient is currently comparing the ‘B’ and ‘Super O’ Drosophila to determine which genes are the driving actors in aging. Using our proprietary ability to link these longevity genes to genes involved in human age-related diseases, we are identifying novel targets for intervention into human aging and disease.