Genomic Enterprise
Genomic Enterprise
Chicago, IL
Technology News
In this section, new technologies in the genomics field will be displayed:
IMPORTANT NEWS
Scientists decode the genome of a brain tumor cell line for
The first complete genomic sequencing of a brain cancer cell line has been performed by U.S. scientists in California in one month for just U$ 35,000. This represents another important step towards the U$ 1,000 genome!
Complete Genomics decipher 14 human genomes!
Complete Genomics has announced that it had deciphered 14 full human genomes for customers that include pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and leading medical research institutes, a significant step for an industry whose work could revolutionize health care.
The cost of decoding a genome is lowered to U$ 50,000!
Helicos Biosciences' researchers developed a technology that lowered the cost to sequence a human genome. This exciting news represents an important step towards personalized genome sequencing and it could revolutionize genomics.
See related articles:
Pushkarev D, Neff NF & Quake SR. Single-molecule sequencing of an individual human genome. Nat Biotechnol. 2009. In press.
Kahvejian A, Quackenbush J, Thompson JF. What would you do if you could sequence everything? Nat Biotechnol. 26:1125-1133, 2008.
New DNA sequencing technologies:
The advent of new DNA sequencing technologies had a significant impact in the genomics field. We now face the same problems as computer scientists since the cost per DNA sequencing reaction has dropped significantly but Moore's law still prevails (1). The main idea is to cut costs and be able to sequence one genome for less than a 1000 dollars. Recently, several new sequencing instruments were released and had already transformed the field. Some of these new technologies will be described here and links to each company that provides them will be displayed:
Second generation DNA sequencers:
This was the first commercially available instrument introduced in 2004. This sequencer works on the principle of the "pyrosequencing reaction" which uses the pyrophosphate molecule released by DNA polymerase in the DNA synthesis (1). This molecule is later converted into light and can be detected. Each run takes 7 days and it can generate 100 Mb with fragments having on average 250bp.
This instrument was released in October of 2007 and it uses a unique sequencing process catalyzed by DNA ligase (1). Each SOLiD (Sequencing by Oligo Ligation and Detection) run requires 5 days and produces 3-4 Gb (the size of the human genome) of sequence with an average read length of 25-35bp.
Introduced in 2006, the Illumina Genome Analyzer is based on the concept of "sequencing by synthesis" (SBS) to produce sequence reads of 32-40bp in 4 days (1). This technology can generate 1.3 Gb of DNA sequence.
Dover Systems, in collaboration with Dr George Church's Laboratory of Harvard Medical School developed the Polonator G.007, a revolutionary approach to second-generation sequencing. The Polonator G.007 is a completely open platform, combining a high performance instrument at a very low price point, with freely downloadable, open-source software and protocols, low-cost, off-the-shelf reagents, and inexpensive flow cells.
Third generation DNA sequencers:
Pacific Biosciences was funded in 2004 with main the goal of developing Single-Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) DNA sequencing technology. The company's approach is based on eavesdropping on a single DNA polymerase molecule working in a continuous, processive manner. Distinguished by its long reads, short run times, and high quality sequence data with less effort and costs, SMRT DNA sequencing promises to be a transformative technology that will enable a new paradigm in genome analysis.
The Helicos™ Genetic Analysis System is the first technology capable of true direct DNA measurement available to the scientific community. The system is comprised of the HeliScope™ Single Molecule Sequencer, the HeliScope™ Analysis Engine, and the HeliScope™ Sample Loader.
Complete Genomics was established in March 2006 by Dr. Clifford Reid, Dr. Radoje Drmanac, and John Curson, who shared a vision to provide high-throughput, affordable, complete genome sequencing of human populations.This company is developing a novel DNA sequencing platform mainly based on a range of proprietary biochemistry, nanotechnology, instrumentation and computing technologies.
Reference:
1. Mardis ER. The impact of next generation sequencing technology on genetics. Trends Genet. (3) 133-141, 2008.
If you have any questions or want to know more about these new technologies contact us.
Genomic Enterprise
Chicago, IL
