Genomic Enterprise
Genomic Enterprise
Chicago, IL
United States
Technology News
In this section, new technologies in the genomics field will be displayed:
What is the best DNA sequencing technology available?
This is still an opened question, but an expert discusses the pros and cons of each DNA sequencing technology.
See article: Next-Gen Sequencing 2010
Four recent articles from the "Technology Review":
How to sequence a genome for $ 100 dollars.
Despite many experts' doubt that whole-genome sequencing could be done for $1,000 or less, BioNanomatrix believes it can reach the $100 target in five years. The reason for its optimism: the company founder Han Cao has created a chip that uses nanofluidics and a series of branching, ever-narrowing channels to allow researchers, for the first time, to isolate and image very long strands of individual DNA molecules.
Complete Genomics promises to sequence 5,000 genomes in 2010 for $ 5,000 dollars each!
Complete Genomics, based in Mountain View, CA, claims that it has sequenced more than 50 genomes in 2009. Now it is scaling up its facility to sequence, it says, as many as 5,000 individual genomes in 2010, with 10,000 genomes a year thereafter, at $1,500 to $5,000 each.
The development of fast tools to scrutinize the human genome.
To date, there are ~3,400 protein-coding genes associated to diseases out of a total of ~25,000 identified by the Human Genome Project. Scientists recently started to use newer techniques that can scan millions of strands of DNA in parallel - a faster, cheaper process that provides vast amounts of genetic data. But these advanced sequencing tests have yet to be approved or optimized for the practice of personalized medicine.
The challenges posed by huge amounts of data generated by new technologies to sequene genomes.
The personalized-medicine industry aims to convert information about an individual's genome into useful diagnostic tests and targeted drug treatments. Companies that deal with gathering the information--sequencing genomes and identifying genetic variations--have made impressive technical advances that have dramatically reduced the cost of analyzing DNA. Now the biggest challenge lies in interpreting the huge volume of genetic data being generated.
IMPORTANT NEWS:
Scientists decode the genome of a brain tumor cell line for $ 35,000!
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 $ 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
United States
