Sequencing and Analysis of the Hydra Genome
Chapman, Kirkness et al., Nature
An international research collaboration reports their sequencing and analysis of the Hydra magnipapillata genome, and compare it to the genomes of several other organisms. "The Hydra genome has been shaped by bursts of transposable element expansion, horizontal gene transfer, trans-splicing, and simplification of gene structure and gene content that parallel simplification of the Hydra life cycle," the authors write. They team suggests that comparisons of the Hydra genome to the reported sequences of other animals have helped them to elucidate the evolution of several of the organism's characteristics.
Is LabCorp Prepping for an International Acquisition to Bolster Esoteric Play?
October 23, 2009
During LabCorp's third-quarter conference call, a company official dropped a particularly strong hint that the reference lab giant is considering making acquisitions in the esoteric-testing space, while another official suggested a buy would come from overseas.
Stephen Anderson, director of investor relations, said "[t]he acquisition market remains attractive with a number of opportunities to strengthen our scientific capabilities, grow our esoteric testing franchise, and increase our presence in key geographic areas."
According to the earnings, LabCorp's esoteric-testing volume during the quarter grew 9.2 percent year-over-year.
Comments made by CEO David King during the call hinted that an acquisition, if it materializes, could come from overseas. In my coverage of LabCorp's earnings statement yesterday, King said “continued growth” in the firm's esoteric-testing play helped drive a 4.2-percent increase in third-quarter revenue.
During the conference call that morning, he said "we are going to continue to focus on growing the esoteric volumes and fully integrating the esoteric businesses into the test menu.
"[W]e would like to be able to compete for large international trials in addition to being an esoteric niche lab, and to do that we need more international reach in the clinical trials business."
King and Anderson's remarks add fuels to growing speculation that LabCorp is actively considering making an acquisition. For instance, this time last month I wrote that King said the clinical lab market “is still highly fragmented” and suggested that “consolidation opportunities are still very much available to us.”
