Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1999

High-throughput automated DNA Sequencer A researcher loading DNA samples into the sequencer Output from the DNA sequencer Yet a l ot r ema i ns u n k n o wn about o ur D N A . Prof. Wong 's me t h od is to use short stretches of D N A of k n o w n sequence as molecular tags to i den t i fy a large number of clones being sequenced. This, wh en combined w i t h the current me t h od of sequencing, can analyse up to 100,000 D N A clones at a time. P r o f. Wo n g p o i n t ed o u t t h at t he a i m of de v e l op i ng this technology is to drastically increase the speed for D N A sequencing so as to enable researchers to sequence megabase- sized regions i n routine scientific and medical studies. This approach can also help i den t i fy disease-susceptible genes. It is expected to play an essential role i n the future development of molecular medicine that aims to tailor medical treatment to the i n d i v i d u al genotype of the patient. Sequencing Technique S ccessfull y Transferre d The U n i v e r s i ty r e c o g n i z ed the g r eat potential and commercial value of Prof. Wong's t echno l ogy and he l ped h i m a p p ly for a US p a t e n t . T he Re s e a r ch a n d T e c h n o l o gy Adm i n i s t r a t i on Office, t h r ough its Ame r i c an consu l t ant M r . N i e ls Reimers, also h e l p ed promote the results of Prof. Wong's research to Affymetrix, a dominant company i n commercial D N A chip production. The latter, f i nd i ng Prof. Wong's technology very promising, signed an agreement w i t h the University under wh i ch it was g i ven an exclusive license for use of the technology i n industry. A f f yme t r ix has also agreed to collaborate w i t h the Un i v e r s i ty i n f u r t h e r d e v e l o p i ng t he t e c h n o l o gy a n d applying for patents for the different products that may result. Significanc e of the Transfer Prof. Wong's technology was developed i n H o n g K o n g , p a t e n t ed i n t he US, a n d t r ans f e r r ed t h r o u gh licensing. The process ma y seem simple yet its implications are far r e a c h i n g. F r om a s c i e n t i f ic p e r s p e c t i v e, A f f yme t r i x, a leader i n the field, w i l l no doubt be a d e pt at r e a l i z i ng f u l l y the p o t e n t i al benefits of the technology. F r om an economic perspective, by attracting the investment of an i n t e r n a t i o n al c o r p o r a t i o n, i t serves as a p o s i t i ve s t i mu l us to H o n g K o n g 's v a l u e- a d d e d i n n o v a t i v e t e c h n o l o g y. Be s i des A f f y m e t r ix has also expressed the w i s h to i n v e s t i n t he A s i a n m a r k e t . I f i t d o es eventually set up p r o d u c t i on plants i n H o ng K o n g , i t w i l l c r ea te m o r e e m p l o y m e n t opportunities for the local people and attract and t r a in more experts i n the field. •