Human Genome Sequencing Completed in Just 15 Minutes

A biotech company has reported that it has technology, now in development, needed to complete a high-quality sequence of the human genome in 15 minutes.

Pacific Biosciences (Menlo Park, CA, USA) CTO Stephen Turner reported that the company could complete that goal within the next five years. With it, a "raw” human sequence could be performed in three minutes. According to Mr. Turner, the company will be able to present its sequencing instrument in a couple of years. In the meantime, the company reported that advances in chip technology and DNA polymerization will be needed to bring the technology into mainstream medicine. To date, Pacific Biosciences has raised US$80 million.

A number of companies have been rapidly developing newer sequencing technology while decreasing the expenses of the research. Once costs drop under $1,000 per sequence, a goal that now seems well within reach, it will be possible to gain a much better understanding of how individuals will respond to specific treatments, resulting in a better approach to personalized to medicine.

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