DoubleTwist Completes the First Annotation of the Human Genome; Sun Supercomputers Used to Process All Available Sequence Data From the Human Genome Project

Business Wire, May 8, 2000

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OAKLAND and PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--May 8, 2000

DoubleTwist, Inc. and Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNW) today announced that DoubleTwist has completed an extensive analysis of the currently available Human Genome Project data, revealing genes and other valuable information.

This milestone was accomplished using Sun Enterprise(TM) supercomputers, including Starfire(TM) servers, and DoubleTwist's proprietary genomic analysis software and distributed processing system. DoubleTwist also announced that it will continue to analyze the Human Genome Project data from its 'working draft' to final form -- and make this data available to scientists on its genomic research portal DoubleTwist.com(TM).

"The Human Genome Project has done a tremendous job of providing the primary sequence of more than 80 percent of the genome to date. We have built upon this accomplishment by processing this data to reveal its most important information -- the genes," said John Couch, chairman and chief executive officer of DoubleTwist. "Further, we are providing a mechanism for scientists to easily view and mine this information on DoubleTwist.com."

"With today's announcement, the stage is set for a new era of discovery," said Greg Papadopoulos, chief technology officer for Sun Microsystems, Inc. "What the Web browser is to the Internet, DoubleTwist.com is to the human genome. It makes this whole complex collection of information easy to use."

DoubleTwist's proprietary multi-step genomic analysis pipeline includes multiple validated gene prediction algorithms, as well as methodologies based on elucidating DNA and protein similarities. To accomplish the initial annotation of the human genome and to facilitate on-going genomic processing, DoubleTwist has developed a distributed processing system that facilitates high-throughput processing and analysis.

"Finding genes in the human genome is not trivial," said Nick Tsinoremas, director of Research at DoubleTwist. "We have developed a computationally and scientifically intense methodology designed to provide the best overall view of the human genome, including the location of the genes and their function. This is a foundation that enables further discovery."

DoubleTwist will also license the database and associated data mining software directly to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for their drug discovery efforts. This software includes a Java(TM)-based, interactive data mining and visualization tool that graphically represents the annotated human genome data, facilitating rapid gene discovery. In addition, DoubleTwist provides software that enables scientists to perform text-based queries to retrieve data of interest.

The DoubleTwist Human Genome Database was created using Sun Enterprise 420R and 10K supercomputers (a total of more than 350 processors).

"Sun is proud to be the vendor behind the processing power, data storage capabilities, and robust operating environment for DoubleTwist.com, an Internet portal that will enable scientists everywhere to mine human genome data," said Sun's Papadopoulos. "The massive amount of raw data DoubleTwist has been able to analyze, thanks in part to supercomputers from Sun, will be invaluable to scientists searching for new and better treatments for disease."

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network is The Computer(TM)" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq:SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to ".com" their businesses. With $14 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.

About DoubleTwist, Inc.

DoubleTwist, Inc. is an application service provider (ASP), devoted to empowering life scientists. The company provides research environments that leverage information technology and the World Wide Web to simplify and accelerate gene discovery. The company's Web site, DoubleTwist.com, is an integrated technology platform that provides a secure and comprehensive research environment and community on the Web. The site provides users with a number of benefits, including automated research agents, continuous database monitoring, access to proprietary data and data mining tools.

For more information, contact DoubleTwist, Inc. at 510/628-0100 or e-mail info-pr@doubletwist.com or visit http://www.doubletwist.com.

Notes to Editors: 1) A FAQ document further explaining the background and implications of this announcement is available by calling Katie Vallance at DoubleTwist, Inc., Phone: 510/ 628-0100, ext. 288; 2) DoubleTwist and Sun Microsystems will hold a teleconference to discuss the announcement on May 8, 2000 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time. To participate dial 800/288-8975 and ask to join the DoubleTwist teleconference. A reply of the conference will be available for 24 hours at 800/475-6701 (code 517105); 3) Broadcast media are welcome to visit with DoubleTwist and Sun spokespersons from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday May 8 at the Sun Enterprise Tech Center, Palo Alto. Contact Judy.Kaneko@corp.sun.com to arrange access; 4) A photo of DoubleTwist President and CEO John Couch at DoubleTwist's data processing center in Santa Clara, Calif. is available through BusinessWire.