Seattle, WA - April 30, 2004 - VizX Labs today announced the release of its latest edition of the GeneSifter microarray analysis system. Version 2004.2 continues the company’s commitment to helping scientists ‘understand the biology’ behind their microarray data by incorporating a unique new pathways report, streamlined support for Affymetrix GEO datasets, CLARA clustering analytics, Boxplot visualization graphics and enhanced Gene Ontologies operations. Building upon almost two years of continual quarterly enhancements, the update is available now and is automatically provided to all existing and new GeneSifter users at no additional cost.

“We’re delighted to continue to deliver enhancements that help scientists better understand the biology underlying their microarray data,” explained VizX CEO Tom Ranken, “VizX remains committed to consistency and success in its execution of the most ambitious update schedule in this industry.”

VizX Labs’ commitment to free quarterly updates, made possible by GeneSifter.Net's Web-based architecture, frees researchers from time-consuming software administration tasks to enable them to focus on their “Science, not Software™.” The latest update includes:

• Pathways Report:
     • Biological pathways most influenced by the experimental conditions can be ranked by a new z-score report which uses LocusLink KEGG data references, and visualized via GeneSifter.

• GEO Affymetrix data automatic upload:
     • Files from GEO, NCBI’s Gene Expression Omnibus data repository, can be quickly and automatically uploaded to GeneSifter. This places thousands of sample microarray datasets at the GeneSifter user’s fingertips.

• MIAME Compliance: Additional MIAME compatibility

• Clustering Enhancements, including CLARA (Clustering LARge Applications), an enhanced k-medoid partitioning for handling large data sets.

• Various UI & visualization graphics enhancements, including a boxplot option for use in quality control, enhanced dendrograms, additional sorting and searching options, and better abilities to construct gene lists.

• Enhancements to Gene Ontologies operations, including reports, export options and links.

Additional information regarding the update is available on the GeneSifter.Net website at http://www.genesifter.net/product-info_releases.php#history. A full set of specifications on the GeneSifter system, with these latest features highlighted, may be viewed at: http://www.genesifter.net/product-info_specs.php.

About GeneSifter.Net
GeneSifter is the accessible microarray data analysis system that helps researchers understand the biology underlying gene expression patterns as it helps them determine their data’s statistical and biological significance. It features 27 types of validated analysis techniques, built-in Gene Ontology and pathways operations, MIAME-compliant protocols and “R” platform biostatistics built into a clean, logical Web-style interface that instantly makes sense to scientists. Downloadable graphics, including screenshots of GeneSifter.Net, may be viewed online at http://www.vizxlabs.com/downloadable_images.html. Free GeneSifter.Net trial accounts are available by logging onto: www.genesifter.net.

About VizX Labs
VizX Labs success combining expertise in biology and computing have gained it a worldwide user base of scientists throughout the United States and in 32 other countries. Subscriptions to its GeneSifter system include support services from science staff and access to Complete Solution™ services via its partnership with Genome Explorations™. The company also provides custom installations, development, and consulting on a contract basis. To view the VizX Labs newsroom, please visit http://www.vizxlabs.com/newsroom.html. .