Genetic Technologies

In 1989, years before the human genome was fully mapped, GeneType was founded in Australia to explore non-coding DNA. This was a bold, forward-looking move, betting on the future value of the vast genetic sequences that, at the time, were often dismissed as "junk." The company's journey began with a focus on building a portfolio of patents around this non-coding DNA, a strategy that would become a core asset. A pivotal moment arrived in 2000 when GeneType merged with Duketon Goldfields, rebranding as Genetic Technologies (GTG) and listing on the Australian Stock Exchange. This wasn't a typical biotech IPO; it was a fusion of genetics and a resources company, providing the capital to defend and monetize its growing patent library. The chairman, Dr. Mervyn Jacobson, led an aggressive strategy, negotiating licenses with companies, sometimes pursuing legal action to enforce their patents on intron sequence analysis. Over the next two decades, the company evolved. It established a listing on the NASDAQ exchange, gaining access to a larger pool of investors. The business model shifted from pure patent licensing to developing and commercializing its own predictive genetic tests. Today, under its geneType brand, the company offers risk assessment tests for complex diseases like cancer, moving from a foundation in overlooked DNA to the forefront of preventative medicine.