<PAGE>   1
                                              * Confidential Treatment Requested

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.15

                               RESEARCH AGREEMENT


     THIS RESEARCH AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made this 31st day of August,
1998, by and between Third Wave Technologies, Inc. ("Institution"); and
Warner-Lambert Company, a Delaware corporation, with its principal place of
business at 201 Tabor Road, Morris Plains, New Jersey, 07950 ("Company").

                                    RECITALS

1. Institution has developed substantial expertise in the area of assay
development for gene expression profiling and polymorphism and mutation analysis
(the "Field").

2. Company desires to obtain the services of Institution in directing certain
research in the Field relating to the development of certain assays. Such
research is hereinafter referred to as the "Development Program". Institution is
willing to direct the Development Program, all on the terms and conditions set
forth herein and in accordance with the protocol attached hereto as Exhibit A
and incorporated herein by reference (the "Protocol").

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and premises herein
contained, the parties agree as follows:

     Section 1. The Development Program. Promptly following receipt of the
amount set forth in Section 2 below, Institution shall use diligent efforts to
develop the Invader(R) assay for the five (5) analytes as described in the
Protocol, subject to Company providing Institution the materials described in
Exhibit B (collectively, the "Company Materials"). Upon completion of the
Development Program with respect to each analyte, Institution agrees to provide
enzyme buffer and Invader probes reasonably sufficient for Company to perform
five hundred (500) assays for such analyte (collectively, the "Institution
Materials"). Accordingly, Institution shall, after consultation with Company,
direct and perform the Development Program in a professional and diligent
manner, all in accordance with the Protocol and the terms of this Agreement.

     Section 2. Payment. In consideration for the performance of the Development
Program by Institution, Company shall pay Institution a non-refundable amount of
[****] (the "Research Amount") within five (5) days of the date of Company's
execution of this Agreement.

     Section 3. Reporting. Company designates Stephen Hunt or his or her
successor to function as its research and development contact (the "Contact").
Institution shall inform the Contact of the progress of the Development Program
in the following manner:

a. By informal verbal reports, from time to time;

b. By response to all of Company's reasonable inquiries regarding the status of
the Development Program;

c. By arrangements to periodically meet and discuss the progress of the
Development Program with the Contact at Institution's facilities; and

d. By submission of a detailed written report thirty (30) days following the
conclusion of the Development Program (the "Final Report").

     Section 4. Ownership of Data: Publication. Subject to Company's rights in
the Company's Materials, all right, title and interest in and to all information
disclosed by Institution hereunder and to all


<PAGE>   2
Institution Materials transferred hereunder shall remain vested in Institution.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4 below, Company shall own all
right, title and interest in and to Inventions (collectively, "Company
Inventions") and Institution hereby assigns all such right, title and interest
to Company. Furthermore, Institution hereby agrees to only use its personnel in
connection with the Development Program. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Company
hereby agrees that Institution shall own all right, title and interest in and to
Inventions directed to subject matter comprising improvements to the Invader
assay technology, including without limitation methods of performing Invader
assays (collectively, "Improvements") and Company hereby assigns all such right,
title and interest to Institution. In addition, to the extent that it has the
right to do so Company hereby grants to Institution an exclusive, worldwide,
royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable right and license, under any and all
Company Inventions, to make, have made, use, import, offer for sale and sell
products and components, solely for diagnostic applications including for tests
or assays used to guide, prescribe or direct therapeutic regimens, treatments or
drugs. For purposes of this Agreement, "Invention" shall mean any and all
discoveries, inventions and other subject matter (whether patentable or not)
made in the course of performing the Evaluation or otherwise in connection with
using the Institution Materials as permitted hereunder and all intellectual
property rights therein. Nothing in this Agreement is to be construed as
granting a license to Company to utilize any information received from
Institution or Institution Materials except as expressly provided herein, under
any patent or other intellectual property rights owned by Institution, unless a
separate agreement for such rights is executed by Company and Institution.
Company and Institution further agree to perform such acts and provide such
documents as are reasonably requested by the other party to effect the foregoing
assignments.

Section 5. Confidentiality.

          (a) Confidential Information. The parties may from time to time
disclose to each other Confidential Information. "Confidential Information"
shall mean and information disclosed by one party to the other party hereto
which if disclosed in tangible form is marked "confidential" or with other
similar designation to indicate it's confidential or proprietary nature or if
disclosed orally is indicated orally to be confidential or proprietary by the
party disclosing such information at the time of such disclosure and is
confirmed in writing as confidential or proprietary by the disclosing party
within a reasonable period after such disclosure; provided, however, all
Improvements shall be deemed to be Confidential Information of the Institution
and all Company Inventions (except to the extent that such Company Inventions
related to diagnostic applications) shall be deemed to be Confidential
Information of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to
the contrary, Confidential Information shall not include any information that,
in each case as demonstrated by written documentation: (i) was already known to
the receiving party or its affiliates, other than under an obligation of
confidentiality, at the time of disclosure; (ii) was generally available to the
public or otherwise part of the public domain at the time of its disclosure to
the receiving party; (iii) became generally available to the public or otherwise
part of the public domain after its disclosure and other than through any act or
omission of the receiving party in breach of this Agreement; or (iv) was
subsequently lawfully disclosed to the receiving party or its affiliates by a
third party which is not in violation of any contractual or legal obligation to
the disclosing party with respect to such Confidential Information.

          (b) Confidentiality. Each party agrees to hold and maintain in strict
confidence all Confidential Information of the other party. Without limiting the
foregoing, neither party shall use or disclose the Confidential Information of
the other party, except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or as may be
necessary or useful to exercise its rights or perform its obligations under this
Agreement. Nothing contained in this Section 5 shall prevent either party from
disclosing any Confidential Information of the other party (1) to accountants,
lawyers or other professional advisors to the extent reasonably necessary to
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement or to prospective lenders, investment
bankers or other financial institutions in connection with a merger, acquisition
or securities offering, subject in each case to the recipient entering into an
agreement to protect such Confidential Information from disclosure; or (ii) to
the extent is required by law or regulation to be disclosed; provided, however,
that the party subject to such disclosure requirement has provided written
notice to the other party



<PAGE>   3
promptly upon receiving notice of such requirement in order to enable the other
party to seek a protective order or otherwise prevent disclosure of such
Confidential Information. Upon any termination of this Agreement, Company and
Institution shall promptly return to the other party all Confidential
Information received from the other party (except one copy of which may be
retained for purposes of monitoring compliance with the provisions of this
Section 5 and for archival purposes).

The foregoing provisions of this Section 5 shall survive expiration or
termination of this Agreement for a period of seven (7) years after such
expiration or termination.

     Section 6. Compliance with Applicable Laws. Institution agrees to conduct
the Development Program and maintain records and data during and after the term
of this Agreement in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory
requirements, including without limitation any applicable requirements of the
United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Federal Drug
Enforcement Administration.

     Section 7. Materials

          (a) Company agrees that all Institution Materials obtained from
Institution pursuant to this Agreement shall be used solely for the purpose of
evaluating whether or not Company desires to enter into a licensing and other
business arrangements with Institution, all on terms and conditions as mutually
determined by Company and Institution and not for any commercial purposes (the
"Evaluation"). Institution agrees that all Company Materials obtained from
Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be used solely for the purpose of
evaluating whether or not Institution desires to enter into a licensing and
other business arrangements with Company, all on terms and conditions as
mutually determined by Company and Institution and not for any commercial
purposes other than the Development Program and commercial diagnostic
applications. Company agrees at all times to use the Institution Materials, and
Institution agrees at all times to use the Company Materials, in compliance with
all state, federal and other applicable laws, rules and regulation pertaining to
use thereof. The Institution Materials and the Company Materials shall include
the original materials transferred to Company or Institution, respectively, as
well as any derivatives or improvements developed by the receiving party
therefrom. INSTITUTION SUPPLIES THE INSTITUTION MATERIALS AND COMPANY SUPPLIES
THE COMPANY MATERIALS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION OR UNDERTAKING
WHATSOEVER, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTY
RESPECTING THE EFFICIENCY, PERFORMANCE, WORKMANSHIP, CONDITION, MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NONINFRINGEMENT.

          (b) During the term of this Agreement and for five (5) years
thereafter Institution agrees to make available to Company for its own internal
research and development purposes enzyme buffer and Invader probes developed
hereunder pursuant Institution's standard terms and conditions therefor,
including standard pricing and minimum order requirement of at least quantities
to perform one thousand (1,000) assays for any particular analyte.

     Section 8. Institution's Representations and Warranties. Institution hereby
represents, warrants and covenants to Company the following:

     a. It has the power and authority to undertake the contractual commitments
set forth in this Agreement.

     b. It is free to enter into this Agreement and carry out its obligations
hereunder without violating any obligation owed to a third party, including,
without limitation, any governmental or quasi-governmental agency, group or
department, or any other private or public institution, person or company. No
such third party currently has, or, except as expressly authorized herein, will
have, any option, license



<PAGE>   4
or other right of any kind with respect to any Study Drug or any data,
information, inventions or discoveries obtained or developed under this
Agreement.

        Section 9. Monitoring of Development Program. During the term of this
Agreement, Institution agrees to permit representative of Company to examine at
any reasonably time during normal business hours (i) the facilities where the
Development Program is being conducted, (ii) raw research data and (iii) any
other relevant information (and to make copies) necessary for Company to
confirm that the Development Program is being conducted in conformance with the
Protocol and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including
those of the United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States
Federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

        Section 10. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date
that it is made and continue for up to 90 days.

        Section 11. Termination. The Development Program may be terminated by
Company at any time in the exercise of its sole discretion upon fifteen (15)
days prior written notice to Institution. Upon receipt or giving of notice, as
the case may be, Institution agrees promptly to terminate conduct of the
Development Program.

        Section 12. Publicity. Neither party shall use the name of the other
party or its divisions, affiliates, personnel or products, as applicable, for
promotional purposes without the prior written consent of the party whose name
is proposed to be used, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld;
provided, however, that either party may (i) disclose the terms of this
Agreement to prospective lenders, investment bankers and other financial
institutions of its choice solely for the purposes of financing the business
operations of such party, either upon the written consent of the other party or
if the disclosing party obtains a signed confidentiality agreement with such
entity or financial institution with respect to such information, and (ii) make
disclosures to the extent required to comply with applicable securities law and
in the case of (ii), if possible, the non-disclosing party shall have consented
to such disclosure, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

        Section 13. Independent Contractor. Institution is acting in the
capacity of independent contractor hereunder and not as employee or agent of
Company.

        Section 14. Controlling Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the law of the State of Michigan (other than
provisions relating to conflicts of laws).

        Section 15. Agreement Modifications. This Agreement may not be altered,
amended or modified except by written document signed by all parties.

        Section 16. Inconsistencies. The terms and conditions of this Agreement
shall govern in the event of conflict between it and the Protocol.

        Section 17. Force Majeure. Any party's delay or failure in performing
its obligations under this Agreement shall be excused to the extent caused by
the occurrence of events beyond that party's reasonable control, including
without limitation, war, floods, earthquakes, other acts of God, industrial
disputes, civil disobedience, strikes, fire, mobilization, changes in
governmental regulation or interpretation, requisition, embargo, restriction
and shortage of transport facilities, fuel, energy or supplies. Each party
claiming the benefit of such an excuse shall notify the other party in writing
of any such delay or failure in performance, and shall resume performance as
soon as is reasonably practicable.

        Section 18. Notice. All notices given hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be delivered by hand or mailed by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, postage pre-paid, addressed to the parties as follows:


<PAGE>   5
To Company:

                  Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research
                  2800 Plymouth Road
                  Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
                  Attn: Chairman

with a copy to:

                  Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research
                  2800 Plymouth Road
                  Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
                  Attn: Assistant General Counsel


To:  Institution:

                  Third Wave Technologies, Inc.
                  502 South Rosa Road
                  Madison, Wisconsin 53719-1256
                  Attn: President


Notice shall be deemed given when received and the parties may change the
respective addresses where notice is to be given upon prior notice hereunder.


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first above
written.

WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY


By: /s/ WENDELL WIERENGA, Ph.D.
    -----------------------------
Name: Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D.
     ----------------------------
Title: Senior Vice President, Worldwide
       Preclinical Research, Development and Technologies
       Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research


THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


By: /s/ MICHAEL TREBLE
    -----------------------------
Name: Michael Treble
Title: Chief Operating Officer
<PAGE>   6



                                   EXHIBIT A

                                    PROTOCOL


The Institution will develop five (5) discrete assays as follows:

     Three (3) Gene Expression Assays as defined in Exhibit B for each of three
     (3) unique mRNA targets as specified by the Company. The Gene Expression
     Assays will utilize the Institution's Primary Invader Technology and
     detection in the polymerase/streptavidin-coated microtiter plate format.

     Two (2) Polymorphism and Mutation Assays as defined in Exhibit B for each
     of two (2) unique single nucleotide polymorphisms as specified by the
     Company. The Polymorphism and Mutation Assays will utilize the
     Institution's Secondary Invader Technology and detection in the microtiter
     plate format using Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET).

A. The assay Development Program for each Gene Expression Assay will encompass
   the following:

     1. Prior to initiation of the Development Program, the Company will provide
        the Institution with the appropriate genetic sequence specifying the
        mRNA target of interest in Exhibit B.

     2. The Institution will design two target-specifying oligonucleotides (an
        "Invader" oligo and a "Signal" probe) for use in the Primary Invader
        reaction. The oligonucleotides will be designed to hybridize to the
        target such that 3'-end of the Invader oligo will overlap the 5'-most
        region of hybridization of the Signal probe. The Institution's
        proprietary Cleavase enzymes are designed to recognize the structure
        created by this overlapping region and cleave the 5' end of the Signal
        probe for subsequent detection.

     3. The melting temperature (T(m)) of the target-specific Signal probe will
        be estimated. In order to optimize signal generation, a temperature near
        the T(m) of the Signal probe will be utilized for the Primary Invader
        reaction such that the reaction cycle (hybridization of the Signal
        probe, cleavage of the 5' end of the Signal probe, release of the
        remaining 3' portion of the Signal probe) will occur rapidly under
        isothermal conditions. This rapid isothermal cycling allows each copy of
        target mRNA to serve as the substrate for multiple signal generation
        cleavage events during reaction incubation. The accumulation of signal
        (5' fragments of the Signal probe) is directly proportional to the
        number of target mRNA transcripts present in the test sample.

     4. The Institution will design a biotin labeled oligonucleotide for capture
        of accumulated Signal probe fragments on a streptavidin-coated
        microtiter plate. The complex formed by capture of the Signal probe
        fragments on the plate forms a primer-template substrate for DNA
        polymerase which is used to extend the Signal probe fragment with
        fluorescein-dUTP (FdUTP).

     5. The Institution will select an appropriate anti-fluorescein alkaline
        phosphatase-conjugated antibody and chemifluorescent substrate for
        detection of the FdUTP labeled fragments.

     6. The Institution will develop appropriate standards for use in the assay
        and will demonstrate assay proof-of-principle using this material. From
        time to time during the assay development program, the Company will
        provide the Institution with appropriate cellular material known to have
        the mRNA target of interest expressed at various levels. The Institution
        will use this material for further assay refinement and optimization.

     7. The Institution estimates that a minimum of 10 attomoles of the mRNA
        target will be required in each test sample for detection in the assay.


<PAGE>   7

B. The assay Development Program for each Polymorphism and Mutation Assay will
   encompass the following when the starting sample material is a PCR product or
   Genomic DNA:

     1. At the initiation of the Development Program, the Company will provide
        the Institution with the appropriate PCR product and Genomic DNA
        containing the target of interest.

     2. Primary Invader Reaction:

          - [****]  The oligonucleotides will be designed to hybridize to
            specific targets (wild-type or mutant respectively) such that 3'-end
            of the Invader oligo will overlap the 5'-most region of
            hybridization of either the wild-type or mutant probe. The
            Institution's proprietary Cleavase enzymes are designed to recognize
            the structure created by this overlapping region and cleave the 5'
            end of the wild-type and mutant probes for use in the Secondary
            Invader reaction.

          - The melting temperature (T(m)) of both the wild-type and mutant
            probes will be estimated. In order to optimize signal generation, a
            temperature near the T(m) of these probes will be utilized for the
            Primary Invader reaction such that the reaction cycle (hybridization
            of probes, cleavage of the 5' end of the probes, release of the
            remaining 3' portion of the probes) will occur rapidly under
            isothermal conditions. This rapid isothemal cycling allows each copy
            of PCR product or Genomic DNA target to serve as the substrate for
            multiple probe cleavage events during reaction incubation. The
            accumulation of wild-type arms (5' fragments of the wild-type probe)
            is directly proportional to the number of wild-type target molecules
            present in the test sample. The accumulation of mutant arms (5'
            fragments of the mutant probe) is directly proportional to the
            number of mutant target molecules present in the test sample.

     3. Secondary Invader Reaction:

          - [****] of the wild-type and mutant probes from the Primary Invader
            reaction are designed to act as Invader oligonucleotides in the
            Secondary Invader reaction. The oligonucleotides will be designed
            such that the 3'-end of the Invader oligos (from the Primary Invader
            reaction) will overlap the 5'-most region of hybridization of the
            Signal probe to the secondary target oligo. The Institution's
            proprietary Cleavase enzymes are designed to recognize the structure
            created by this overlapping region and cleave the 5' end of the
            Signal probe for subsequent detection. [****]

          - The melting temperature (T(m)) of the Signal probe will be
            estimated. In order to optimize signal generation, a temperature
            near the T(m) of the Signal probe will be utilized for the Secondary
            Invader reaction such that the reaction cycle (hybridization of
            Signal probe, cleavage of the 5' end of the Signal probe, release of
            the remaining 3' portion of the Signal probe) will occur rapidly
            under isothermal conditions. This rapid isothemal cycling allows
            each copy of secondary target to serve as the substrate for multiple
            signal generation cleavage events during reaction incubation. The
            accumulation of signal (5' fragments of the Signal probe) is
            directly proportional to the number of Secondary Invader oligos
            (from the Primary Invader reaction) present in the secondary
            reaction.


<PAGE>   8
4.  The Institution will determine appropriate assay cut-off values for
    assessment of genotype (wild-type homozygous, mutant homozygous,
    wild-type/mutant heterozygous) based on fluorescence signal.

5.  The Institution estimates that a minimum of 20ng of PCR product or 100ng of
    Genomic DNA will be required in each test sample for detection in the assay.


<PAGE>   9
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

DEVELOPMENT OF THREE (3) GENE EXPRESSION ASSAYS

Company has identified three unique mRNA targets for which Institution will
develop Gene Expression assays as specified below.

1) [****] The sequences are very similar. Invaders should be directed to regions
of identity to these sequences.)

LOCUS          [****]
DEFINITION     [****]
ACCESSION      [****]
NID            [****]
KEYWORDS       [****]
SOURCE         [****]
ORGANISM       [****]
     Eukaryotae; mitochondrial eukaryotes; Metazoa; Chordata;
     Vertebrata; Eutheria; Rodentia; Sciurognathi; Myomorpha; Muridae;
     Murinae; Rattus

REFERENCE 1    (bases 1 to 813)
AUTHORS        Unterman,R.D., Lynch,K.R., Nakhasi,H.L., Dolan,K.P.,
               Hamilton,J.W., Cohn,D.V. and Feigelson,P.
TITLE          "Cloning and sequence of several alpha-2u-globulin cDNAs"
JOURNAL        Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 3478-3482 (1981)
MEDLINE        81273082
COMMENT        Amino acid sequence encoded by bases 46 thru 135 was
               independently determined.
FEATURES       Location/Qualifiers
   source    1..813
         /organism="Rattus norvegicus"
         /db_xref="taxon:10116"
   mRNA   <1..813
         /note-"a-2u mRNA"
   CDS    <1..534
         /note="alpha-2u globulin precursor()"
         /codon_start=1
         /db_xref="PID:g204261"

/translation="LLLLCLGLTLVCGHAEEASSTSGNLDVAKLNGDWFSIVVASNKREKIEENGSMRVFM
QHIDVLENSLGFKFRIKENGECRELYLVAYKTPEDGEYFVEYDGGNTFTILKTDYDRYVMFHLINF
KNGETFQLMVLYGRTKDLSSDIKEKFAKLCEAHGITRDNIIDLTKTDRCLQARG"

   sig_peptide  4..45
             /note="alpha-2u globulin signal peptide"
   mat_peptide  46..531
             /note="alpha-2u globulin"
BASE COUNT         233 a  180 c  185 g  215 t
ORIGIN  38 bp upstream of BalI site.
   1 ctgctgctgc tgtgtctggg cctgacactg gtcgtggcc atgcagaaga agctagttcc
  61 acaagcggga accctcgatgt ggctaagctc aatggggatt ggttttctat tgtcgtggcc
 121 tctaacaaaa gagaaaagat agaagagaat ggcagcatga gagtttttat gcagcacatc
 181 gatgtcttgg agaattcctt aggcttcaag ttccgtatta aggaaaatgg agagtgcagg
<PAGE>   10
     241 gaactatatt tggttgccta caaaacgcca gaggatggcg aatattttgt tgagtatgac
     301 ggagggaata catttactat acttaagaca gactatgaca gatatgtcat gtttcatctc
     361 attaatttca agaacgggga aaccttccag ctgatggtgc tctacggcag aacaaaggat
     421 ctgagttcag acatcaagga aaagtttgca aaactatgtg aggcgcatgg aatcactagg
     481 gacaatatca ttgatctaac caagactgat cgctgtctcc aggcccgagg atgaagaaag
     541 gcctgagcct ccagtgctga gtggagaact tctcaccagg actctagcat caccatttcc
     601 tgtccatgga gcatcctgag acaaattctg cgatctgatt tccatcctct gtcacagaaa
     661 agtgcaatcc tggtctctcc agcatcttcc ctagttaccc aggacaacac atcgagaatt
     721 aaaagctttc ttaaatttct cttggcccca cccatgatca ttccgcacaa atatcttgct
     781 cttgcagttc aataaatgat taccttgca ctt

2) [****]

LOCUS          [****]
DEFINITION     [****]
               [****]
ACCESSION      [****]
NID            [****]
KEYWORDS
SOURCE         [****]
ORGANISM       [****]
     Eukaryotae; mitochondrial eukaryotes; Metazoa; Chordata;
     Vertebrata; Mammalia; Eutheria; Rodentia; Sciurognathi; Muridae;
     Murinae; Rattus.

REFERENCE 1    (bases 1 to 1182)
AUTHORS        Pataon, V.G., Shackelford, J.E. and Krisans, S.K.
TITLE          "Cloning and subcellular localization of hamster and rat
               isopentenyl diphosphate dimethylallyl disphosphate isomerase.
               A PTS1 motif targets the enzyme to peroxisomes
JOURNAL        J. Biol. Chem. 272, 18945-18950 (1997)

REFERENCE 2    (bases 1 to 1182)
AUTHORS        Paton, V.G., Shackelford, J.E. and Krisans, S.K.
TITLE          Direct Submission
JOURNAL        Submitted (12-MAY-1997) Biology, San Diego State University,
               5300 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182, USA
FEATURES       Location/Qualifiers
  source       1..1182
            /organism="Rattus norvegicus"
            /strain="Sprague-Dawley"
            /db_wref="taxon:10116"
  CDS          386..1069
            /EC_number="5.3.3.2"
            /note="IPP isomerase; localized in peroxisomes"
            /codon_start=1
            /product="isopentenyl diphosphate:dimethylallyl
            diphosphate isomerase"
            /db_xref="PID:g 2253701"

/translation="MPEINASNLDEKQVQLLAEMCILIDENDNKIGADTKKNCHLNENIDKGLIHRAFSVFL
FNTENKLLLQQRSDAKITFPGCFTNSCCSHPLNNPGELEENDAMGVKRAAQKRLKAELGIPLEEVD
LNEMNYLTRIYYKAQSDGIWGEHEIDYILFLRKNVTLNPDPNEIKSYCYVSKEELKEILKKEARGEI
KFTPWFKILADAFLFKWWDNLNHLSPFVDHEKIHRM"
BASE COUNT 341 a 237 c 295 g 309 t
<PAGE>   11
ORIGIN
      1 ggaagcttcc ccaccgcaaa gcagctagac gtgcgggcag tctcagctgt ccactgggag
     61 tcgccaacac catctcttgg gctccagggt cgcaatcact accggggatc tccagcaagt
    121 cttccggacc cacgcgtaga ggaggtggtg ccaccgcgcg caaacctggc gcggtcgtga
    181 cgtcaggact acgctagatt ggcaattggc tggaggcatg tggcgcggac gggcactggc
    241 aggagtgatt ggatcagctc ttaaggggcg gggtctggag gcggagcatg ctgccgagag
    301 cgttgaagta cggcgctccg cacagcttct cgacactcct gtctggaatc gctgtgttct
    361 aggtcagatc agacattctg tcacaatgcc tgaaatcaat gccagcaatc ttgatgaaaa
    421 acaggttcag cttctagcag agatgtgtat tcttattgat gaaaatgaca ataaaattgg
    481 ggctgacacc aagaaaaatt gtcacctgaa tgaaaacatt gacaaaggac taatacatcg
    541 agctttcagt gtcttcttgt ttaatactga aaacaagctc ctgttacagc agagatcgga
    601 tgctaaaatt acctttccag gttgtttcac caatagttgc tgtagtcatc cattaaataa
    661 ccccggggag ctggaagaaa atgatgccat gggtgtcaaa cgagcagcac agaagcgctt
    721 aaaggcggag ctggggatac ccttggaaga ggttgatcta aatgaaatga attatctaac
    781 aagaatttac tacaaggccc aatctgatgg tatctggggt gaacatgaaa ttgattacat
    841 tttgtttctg aggaagaatg taaccctgaa tccggatccc aacgagatta aaagctattg
    901 ctatgtatca aaggaagaac tcaaagaaat tttgaagaag gaagccaggg gcgaaattaa
    961 gtttactcca tggtttaaga ttattgcaga cgcttttctc tttaaatggt gggataactt
   1021 aaaccatttg agtccttttg ttgaccatga gaaaatacat agaatgtgaa tgtgtaaatg
   1081 atttgagatt tttttctacc tactaagaat ggtttgattt tgttttaaat tgggctccct
   1141 tgtatgacac atagatattt tacaaccaga atttgttttg ag

3) [****]

LOCUS         [****]
DEFINITION    [****]
ACCESSION     [****]
NID           [****]
KEYWORDS      [****]
SOURCE        [****]
ORGANISM      [****]
    Eukaryotae; [****]
    Vertebrata; [****]
    Murinae; Rattus.

REFERENCE 1   (base 1 to 3275)
AUTHORS       Hegardt,F.G.
TITLE         Direct Submission
JOURNAL       Submitted (17-APR-1990) Hegardt F.G., University of Barcelona,
              Unit of Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Placa Pius XII, s/n.
              08028, Barcelona, Spain
REMARK        (b 1-38,40,41-62,64-3275)

REFERENCE 2   (bases 1 to 3275)
AUTHORS       Ayte,J., Gil-Gomez,G. and Hegardt,F.G.
TITLE         "Nucleotide sequence of a rat liver cDNA encoding the cytosolic
              3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase"
JOURNAL       Nucleic Acids Res. 18 (12), 3642 (1990)
MEDLINE       90301491
REMARK        (b 1-38,40,41-62,64-3275)

REFERENCE 3   (bases 1 to 3275)
AUTHORS       Haegardt,F.G.
TITLE         Direct Submission
JOURNAL       Submitted (30-JUL-1990) to the EMBL/GenBank/DDBJ database
<PAGE>   12
FEATURES       Location/Qualifiers
 source        1.3275
               /organism="Rattus norvegicus"
               /strain="Sprague Dawley"
               /db_xref="taxon:10116
               /tissue_type="liver"
               /clone="lambda-cCS1"
      precursor_RNA  1..3275
               /note="primary transcript"
      CDS        92..1654
               /note="cytosolic 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A
               synthase (AA 1-520)"
               /codon_start=1
               /db_xref="PID:g55947"
               /db_xref="SWISS-PROT:P17425"


/translation="MPGSLPLNAEACWPKDVGIVALEIYFPSQYVDQAELEKYDGVDAGKYTIGLGQARM
GFCTDREDINSLCLTVVQKLMERNSLSYDCIGRLEVGTETIIDKSKSVKSNLMQLFEESGNTDIEGID
TTNACYGGTAAVFNAVNWIESSSWDGRYALVVAGDIAIYASGNARPTGGVGAVALLIGPNAPVIF
DRGLRGTHMQHAYDFYKPDPDMLSEYPVVDGKLSIQCYLSALDRCYSVYRKKIRAQWQKEGKDKDF
TLNDFGFMIFHSPYCKLVQKSLARMFLNDFLNDQNRDKNSIYSGLEAFGDVKLEDTYFDRDVEKA
FMKASAELFNQKTKASLLVSNQNGNMYTSSVYGSLASVLAQYSPQQLAGKRIGVFSYGSGLAATL
YSLKVTQDATPGSALDKITASLCDLKSRLDSRTCVAPDVFAENMKLREDTHHLANYIPQCSIDSLFE
GTWYLVRVDEKHRRTYARRPSTNDHSLDEGVGLVHSNTATEHIPSPAKKVPRLPATSGEPESAVIS
NGEH"
BASE COUNT   934a   634c   789 g   918 t
ORIGIN
     1 cccagggtcc gatcgcgttt ggtgcctgaa ggaggaaccg gtgacagacc tggagactac
    61 agttctctgt ccttcacaca gctctttcac catgcctggg tcacttcctt tgaatgcaga
   121 ggcttgctgg ccaaaagatg tgggaatcgt tgcccttgaa atctactttc cttctcagta
   181 tgttgatcaa gctgagttgg aaaaatacga tggtgtagat gctggaaagt ataccattgg
   241 cctgggccag gccaggatgg gcttctgcac ggatcgcgaa gacatcaact ctctctgcct
   301 gactgtggtt cagaaactga tggagagaaa tagcctttcc tatgactgca ttggcggct
   361 ggaagtcggg acagagacaa tcatcgacaa atcaaaatcc gtgaagtcta atttgatgca
   421 gctgtttgag gagtctggga atacagatat agaaggaata gatacaacta atgcatgcta
   481 tgggggcaca gccgcagtct tcaatgctgt gaactggatc gaatccagct cttgggatgg
   541 acgatacgct ttggtagttg caggagacat cgctatatat gcctcaggaa acgccaggcc
   601 tacaggtgga gttggagctg tggctctgct aattgggcca aatgctcctg taatttttga
   661 ccgagggctt cgtgggacac acatgcagca tgcctacgac ttttacaagc ctgacatgct
   721 ctctgaatac cctgtggtag atggaaaact ctccatacag tgctacctca gcgcattgga
   781 ccgctgctat tctgtctacc gcaaaaagat ccgggcccag tggcagaaag agggaaagga
   841 taaagatttt accctgaatg attttggctt catgatcttt cactcgccat actgtaaact
   901 ggtgcagaaa tctctagcta ggatgttcct gaatgacttt cttaacgatc aaaacagaga
   961 caaaaacagt atttacagtg ggctggaagc ctttggggat gtgaaattag aagatactta
   1021 cttcgacaga gatgtggaaa aggcatttat gaaggctagt gctgagctat tcaaccagaa
   1081 aacaaaggca tctttgcttg tatcgaatca aaatggaaac atgtacacat cctctgtata
   1141 cggttccctt gcttctgttc tggcacagta ctcacctcaa cagttggccg ggaagaggat
   1201 tggagtgttc tcttacggtt ctggcttggc tgccacactc tactccctta aagtcacaca
   1261 agatgccaca ccaggatctg ctcttgacaa aataacagca agtttatgtg accttaagtc
   1321 aaggcttgac tcaagaacgt gtgtggcacc agacgtcttt gctgaaaaca tgaagctcag
   1381 agaggacaca catcacttag ccaactatat tccccagtgt tcaatagatt cactcttcga
   1441 aggaacatgg tatctagtca gagtggatga aaagcacaga agaacttacg cccggcgtcc
   1501 ctccacaaat gaccacagtt tggatgaagg agtgggactt gtgcattcaa acacagctac
   1561 agagcatatt ccaagcccgg ctaagaaagt gccaagactt cctgcgacct cgggcgaacc

<PAGE>   13
   1621 tgagtcggct gtcatcagta acggggagca ctgagagccg tggccttcac agaggctcgg
   1681 ggctggatgg ggtatgggaa acgttagagg aatggatgtc ttgggacaat tttacagatt
   1741 acgtgttgct taaaaatgta atgtaactga cacagagccc agaaaactgt tgtgtttttg
   1801 gagaagtctc gctgagctcc taacacactt cctgctgtgg gctggccaat ggtgaatgta
   1861 ctgcgatggt gttaagggct ctgcagaacg tcatacctcg ctgcatgttt acacgcatgc
   1921 gggttaggct tcaaactcgg tctgaactga gtgcttctga ctgcaaaggc agaggtactg
   1981 ctgtccagtt taaaaaattg tttttttttt ttttaatgtg taagaatttt tatacttaaa
   2041 taaaaaaaag tacctgtagc ttttggggga aaaaaaaaaa cctttttcta ggttggggat
   2101 tgtggaattt aaatgttaca cataaactct gcttaatggc aaggcaaaca tttatctttt
   2161 tcgaagattt ataaatcctg aagagaaaaa aagagggtat ggttctagga tctggatgaa
   2221 ccatcagtga gaaaggttag tcataatcaa gtgagcagaa ggatgctggc gttgagcagg
   2281 cctctgtcac agcaaccagg gctctgtggg cacagctgag ggaactttct ggccaggtgc
   2341 ccgtgactgc tgctcagctg cactgagatg cagtggagct gctgcacgga agcttgctgt
   2401 ggtgctgaac gccttacctg cggataaagt gtaaagtagg agggatgggc agggcactat
   2461 taggttacag tgttacagac ccaggttata gacttgacag ctcaaactca ccagacacct
   2521 ttttcccttt gtggtttgtg tattttttgt gttttgtttg ttttttttta tattgttcaa
   2581 tttaaaaaat ttagaaaatt ttaaccttac gttttcacat agtgtgatta gccaaaagga
   2641 atttcacttc aagatctaga aatagaattc ataacatttt ttcctaaact ttgactttta
   2701 aaacaacgaa aattaccaca tgagatgaac aagaaaattc attagaaagt tctctgggtg
   2761 atttttggtg ctgaactgac atgagcctca tagactgtaa aacagaggta gttgaaacta
   2821 atgtacagaa ctacattttt taattttatt tgcatttaat tctgtgaagt ttcagttatc
   2881 taaaataaac acataaacgt gtaatgtttc agattgcaag gtgagatgta atgtagcatt
   2941 tgtaagatat tcttgtcaat attaactggt aggattttga tttgtacagt tttaattggt
   3001 taaaatgatc tcattttaac atccactgct atagatgaat gatgtaagct cagatttaat
   3061 gaatggtggg gaaatggtgc atgtaatttt ttcgcaagta tcgagagttc tgtatgtttt
   3121 gaaaagaata atttaacgtt tgggttgcca ggaagggggc tttcccagag tccattgcca
   3181 ggcgttgggc aagcctcgca atgttggcac ggagcgttaa ccacacctta ctaatagcaa
   3241 ggggaataac tttgaaataa agttttagac aaata

Company will provide cellular material, known to contain mRNA targets of
interest, as necessary for refinement and optimization of the assays. If
available, Company will provide Institution with 1) cDNA clones for the above
three gene expression assay targets for use as controls, 2) information about
any closely related mRNA species that might be expected to exhibit cross
reactivity. Following evaluation of the Invader assays, Company may share with
Institution certain information about relevant mRNA levels of these genes as
determined by the Company or a third party using other mRNA quantitation
technologies.

Development of Two (2) Polymorphism and Mutation Assays

Company has identified two single nucleotide polymorphisms which Institution
will develop Polymorphism and Mutation detection assays as specified below.

1) [****]

For reference, the sequence from nt3301 to 3720, with the wt allele of the
polymorphic site shown large and bolded, is included below:

cctgggcaag aagtcgctgg agcagtgggt gaccgaggag gccgcctgcc tttgtgccgc cttcgccaac
cactccggtg ggtgatgggc agaagggcac aaagcgggaa ctgggaaggc gggggacggg gaaggcgacc
ccttacccgc atctcccacc cccaggacgc ccctttcgcc ccaacggtct cttggacaaa gccgtgagca
acgtgatcgc ctccctcacc tgcgggcgcc gcttcgagta cgacgaccct cgcttcctca ggctgctgga
cctagctcag gagggactgaaggaggagtc gggctttctg cgcgaggtgc ggagcgagag accgaggagt
ctctgcaggg cgagctcccg agaggtgccg gggctggact ggggcctcgg aagagcagga tttgcataga
<PAGE>   14
[****]

2) [****] The polymorphism changes the NAT1 poly adenylation signal from taataaa
to taaaaaa.

Company can provide 20 human genomic DNA samples for evaluation. Company does
not currently have an assay for this polymorphism, and cannot develop a
high-throughput Taqman assay for this SNP due to high AT content in the region
and the presence of a 9 unit trinucleotide repeat just upstream of the
polyadenylation signal. Based on the literature available Company expects to
detect a reasonably high frequency of heterozygotes at the targeted locus.
Company may be able to provide additional genomic DNA samples for evaluation,
if deemed necessary.

EVALUATION OF P450 EXPRESSION INVADER ASSAYS

In order to test Institution's assays for quantitating P450 induction, Company
will provide 24 blind-coded samples of rat liver RNA. Company can provide total
RNA, mRNA, or both and non-proprietary information about such samples such as
tissue source, time of induction and inducing agent if deemed necessary or
desirable by Institution or Company. Samples will include negative controls and
positive controls for induction of several rat liver cytochrome P450 isoforms.
Ideally, Company would like all 24 samples to be analyzed for expression of ALL
rat cytochromes P450 for which Institution has developed assays; at the minimum,
Company needs data on the 2B and 3A families.