WOBURN, Mass. -- U.S. Genomics announced it was awarded a $499,500 contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to examine the use of the Company's direct linear DNA analysis technology to detect Class A pathogens, such as anthrax and smallpox. The contract will enable the company to study the use of its GeneEngine (TM) technology as a tool to create genomic maps or signatures of organisms; such maps have the potential to enable very rapid detection and identification of deadly bacteria. U.S. Genomics is the pioneer of direct, linear DNA analysis, a technology that enables ultra-fast genetic analysis. The Company's GeneEngine (TM) technology directly analyzes individual strands of long, contiguous DNA molecules to map whole genomes at rates exponentially faster than those of existing technologies. The GeneEngine (TM) technology utilizes a universal mapping technique based on tagging of DNA motifs, so it is capable of mapping a broad array of genomes, known and unknown, with a single test, unlike most detection technologies which are limited to testing for the presence of a single, known organism. In the last year there has been increased interest in detection and identification of potentially dangerous biological elements. Because individual species and even different strains of the same species have unique genomes, a method for rapidly generating maps of microbial genomes for identification could represent a critical first step in facilitating appropriate countermeasures against deployed biological warfare agents. Under the DARPA contract, U.S. Genomics will seek to demonstrate the capabilities of the GeneEngine technology platform for such rapid microbial mapping and identification. "We are very excited to work with DARPA to explore this advanced application of our GeneEngine (TM) technology platform," said Eugene Chan, CEO of U.S. Genomics. "This application of our technology can be compared to a bar code scanner at the supermarket. When an item, or genome in this case, is scanned, it is rapidly identified by comparison to a larger database. The research supported by this DARPA contract will also enhance our strategy to develop a robust commercial technology, based on genomic analysis, for broader healthcare applications."