BioHDF Prototype Demonstrates Clear Benefits
Alignment Storage Requirements Are Reduced to a Fraction of the Original File Size

SEATTLE, WA – August 25, 2009 – Geospiza, Inc., the market leading developer of genetic analysis software is excited to report that initial BioHDF prototypes have demonstrated clear benefits over existing technologies used to store and work with Next Generation Sequence (NGS) data. Sequences, their alignments, and other files needed to mine the data, which have until now required many Gigabytes for storage are just a few percent of that size when stored in BioHDF’s compressed, structured binary format.

Mark Welsh, Senior Scientific Developer, recently presented these initial findings at ISMB in Stockholm (presentation may be accessed here: http://www.scivee.tv/node/12038). The overwhelming response to his presentation highlighted the demand for this kind of technology. Welsh commented, “Since we are still at an early stage of development, I was surprised at the number of scientists who are interested in the work we are doing.” 

BioHDF technology, based on HDF5 (Hierarchical Data Format, http://www.thehdfgroup.org) will extend HDF5 to meet specific high-performance data storage and computation requirements of Next Generation Sequencing. To enable its use within the bioinformatics and research communities, BioHDF will be delivered as an Open Source technology that will include: a data model supporting storage of sequences, their alignments against reference data sources; indexing for fast random-access into this data; analysis tools that target specific applications and visualization tools that provide reporting and interactive display of these very large data sets. BioHDF will make it easier for bioinformaticians to align sequences and mine the output to understand biology.

Unlike many software vendors who incorporate proprietary, analysis algorithms and tools in their software, Geospiza is committed to working with the open source community to incorporate publicly accessible, validated algorithms within the easy-to-use GeneSifter product framework. With BioHDF, Geospiza extends this practice to contribute to the community as well.

“Scientists need to be able to provide verifiable results based on community standards,” said Todd Smith, CSO of Geospiza. “We are committed to working in a collaborative way with the scientific community to build on and contribute to our common knowledge base to speed the adoption of these critical new technologies.”

About Geospiza
Designed by biologists, Geospiza’s products are configured to reflect best practices and to work out-of-the-box, so that researchers can focus on their science. Geospiza’s software systems have established an international reputation for usability and performance since 1997. You can find more information on Geospiza and its products at www.geospiza.com.

For more information, please contact:
Laura Lucas, VP Marketing
Geospiza, Inc.
Phone: 206.633.4403 x 119
E-mail: laural@geospiza.com