New Method To Revolutionize DNA Sequencing

An anonymous reader writes "A new method of DNA sequencing published this week in Science identifies incorporation of single bases by fluorescence. This has been shown to increase read lengths from 20 bases (454 sequencing) to >4000 bases, with a 99.3% accuracy. Single molecule reading can reduce costs and increase the rate at which reads can be performed. 'So far, the team has built a chip housing 3000 ZMWs [waveguides], which the company hopes will hit the market in 2010. By 2013, it aims to squeeze a million ZMWs [waveguides] onto a single chip and observe DNA being assembled in each simultaneously. Company founder Stephen Turner estimates that such a chip would be able to sequence an entire human genome in under half an hour to 99.999 per cent accuracy for under $1000.'"

Comments

Sub-$1000 genome sequencing

[morgan_greywolf]

Sub-$1000 genome sequencing will put the creation of 'designer' kids into the realm of the affordable for much of the middle class. Scary stuff. Now we just need to combine that with cheap and reliable cloning techniques and my plans for world domination will be comlete!

Re:Sub-$1000 genome sequencing

[Ethanol-fueled]

"...my plans for world domination will be comlete!"

Hopefully you'll fix that nasty intercalary deletion bug first!

Re:99.3% accurate?

[morgan_greywolf]

1 Hour Genome Sequencing: 30,000 errors or less or YOUR MONEY BACK!

Re:99.3% accurate?

[shaitand]

If you were sequencing DNA and got a B then you'd seriously need to recheck the equipment (or the competence of the operator). Perhaps a T or a G, or even a C but never a B.

Re:99.3% accurate?

[fracai]

Oh well. At least it's not the first time somebody missed a point on /.

Don't you mean "Oh well. At least it's not the first time somebody missed a point on /".

Re:99.3% accurate?

[TooMuchToDo]

Unless of course all three of your compasses are giving you different readings. In that case, you simply yell "Where the hell is my sextant."