High-Throughput System for DNA Sequencing

A novel high-throughput system will enable researchers to sequence genomes and long DNA sequences up to 100 times faster than current commercial platforms.

The Genome Sequencer 20 system is based on a nanotechnology-based approach to sequencing, invented by 454 Life Sciences (Branford, CT, USA). The company is manufacturing the system and reagent kits for Roche Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), which is distributing the system and reagents to all markets except regulated diagnostics.

The Genome Sequencer 20 represents the first commercially available instrument to provide a convenient solution for ultra-high-throughput DNA sequencing. Following a single step to prepare an entire genome, the compact system can sequence as least 20 million bases in one five-hour run. The technology eliminates the need for large-scale robotics as it is used in established techniques. A researcher can prepare, sequence, and generate results in days instead of months. The technology performs massively parallel sequencing on a PicoTiterPlate, employing state-of-the-art image processing, and utilizes data analysis to achieve high-quality results.

"The Genome Sequencer 20 System provides a new and promising foundation for research applications,” noted Heino von Prondzynski, CEO, Roche Diagnostics. "We are excited to be able to enter this market and offer the latest innovative technology to researchers around the world.”





Related Links:
454 Life Sciences
Roche Diagnostics