EXHIBIT 1

      JOINT FILING AGREEMENT AMONG FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.,
         FBR GENOMICS LLC, ERIC F. BILLINGS, EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN
                              AND W. RUSSELL RAMSEY

     WHEREAS, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Act"),  only one joint  statement and any  amendments  thereto
need to be filed  whenever  one or more  persons  are  required  to file  such a
statement or any  amendments  thereto  pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Act with
respect to the same securities, provided that said persons agree in writing that
such statement or amendments thereto is filed on behalf of each of them;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     FRIEDMAN,  BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC., FBR GENOMICS LLC, ERIC F.
BILLINGS,  EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN AND W. RUSSELL RAMSEY hereby agree,  in
accordance  with  Rule 13d-1(k)  under  the Act,  to file a statement on
Schedule  13G  relating to their ownership of Common Stock of the Issuer and do
hereby further agree that said statement shall be filed on behalf of each of
them.


                                      FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY GROUP, INC.
Dated:   February 15, 2001
                                      By: /s/ EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN
                                      ---------------------------------
                                      Name:  Emanuel J. Friedman
                                      Title: Chairman


Dated:   February 15, 2001            FBR GENOMICS LLC
                                      By: /s/  EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN
                                      ----------------------------------
                                      Name:  Emanuel J. Friedman
                                      Title: Managing Member


Dated:   February 15, 2001             /s/ ERIC F. BILLINGS
                                      ----------------------------------
                                      Eric F. Billings


Dated:   February 15, 2001             /s/ EMANUEL J. FRIEDMAN
                                      ----------------------------------
                                      Emanuel J. Friedman


Dated:   February 15, 2001             /s/ W. RUSSELL RAMSEY
                                      ----------------------------------
                                      W. Russell Ramsey