News and Information

Sigma-Aldrich Corporation® (Nasdaq: SIAL) today announced that Sigma Advanced Genetic Engineering (SAGE™) Labs, an initiative of Sigma Life Science, in partnership with Autism Speaks, will present data on the biological and behavioral characterization of the first rats genetically engineered to model autism. The novel rat models of autism mimic specific symptoms and pathologies of autism to provide an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the underlying biology and therapeutic targets for autism spectrum disorders. Results of the initial experiments characterizing these models will be presented by Professor Richard E. Paylor, Ph.D., from Baylor College of Medicine with additional details on the importance and creation of the models by Robert Ring, Ph.D., Vice President of Translational Research at Autism Speaks, and Edward Weinstein, Ph.D., Director of SAGE Labs, on November 15, 2011 at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Details on the symposium are available below, as well as at www.sigma.com/sfn2011.

New Features Help Simplify Designing MIQE-Compliant Primers and Probes

Sigma-Aldrich® (Nasdaq: SIAL), today announced that Sigma Life Science, the innovative biological products and services research business, released a new version of OligoArchitect™, the comprehensive, easy-to-use online tool for automated design of primers and probes for quantitative real-time PCR assays. Powered by the industry standard Beacon Designer™ platform from PREMIER Biosoft, OligoArchitect is a free, robust design tool that complements Sigma Life Science’s portfolio of qPCR probes, reagents, and oligonucleotide services. To access OligoArchitect, visit sigma.com/probedesignonline.

Advances in technology platform and new production center result in more content and less expensive CompoZr ZFNs

Sigma Life Science, the innovative biological products and services research business of Sigma-Aldrich® (Nasdaq: SIAL), today announced a major breakthrough in the development of its proprietary CompoZr zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology with the release of more Knockout ZFNs covering the entire genomes of both mice and rats, while reducing the pricing of products within the CompoZr ZFN portfolio by half. A new dedicated high-throughput manufacturing center, together with advances in ZFN design algorithms and production processes, has led to cost reductions in the development and production for both CompoZr Custom and Knockout ZFNs. This has allowed Sigma Life Science to extend the range of its Knockout ZFNs and to make ZFN technology more affordable to the scientific community. For more information visit sigma.com/zfn.