Startup Promises $30 Full Genome Sequencing

[Humanist]

The $30 Genome? (http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/25481/page1/)


At a time when the longtime goal of a $1,000 genome is still just out of reach, a Harvard University physicist is promising an even cheaper price--the ability to sequence a human genome for just $30. David Weitz and his team are adapting microfluidics technology that uses tiny droplets, a strategy developed in his lab, to DNA sequencing. While the researchers have not yet sequenced DNA, they have successfully demonstrated parts of the process and formed a startup, GnuBio, to commercialize the technology. Weitz presented the findings at the Consumer Genomics Conference in Boston last week.

If this, or anything similar, comes to fruition, what impact will it have on companies, such as 23andMe? I foresee a subscription service. One where, for example, you would pay $100 for your FGS, and one year's subscription to the site's services. Good news for us, in addition to the affordable FGS, will be the number of folks testing, and the inevitable increase in industry participants.

[warwick]

The $30 Genome? (http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/25481/page1/)



If this, or anything similar, comes to fruition, what impact will it have on companies, such as 23andMe? I foresee a subscription service. One where, for example, you would pay $100 for your FGS, and one year's subscription to the site's services. Good news for us, in addition to the affordable FGS, will be the number of folks testing, and the inevitable increase in industry participants.

Yes, and then the real issue will be the interpretation of a 3 billion base pair dataset.

[Geto-Thracian]

Sweeeeeet!:thumbsup:

[Ubirajara]

Well, I can't wait for next generation of tests, they will be much better, for sure. Full genome sequence in the near future is great news!

[EliasAlucard]

Very interesting:

GnuBio is a new Harvard University spinout that is poised to become an "eBay of Biomarkers," according to founder John Boyce. Boyce, who spent several years at Cambridge-based genome sequencer Helicos Biosciences Corp., has joined with Harvard professor of physics and engineering Dave Weitz and Jessica Tonani, former associate director of product marketing for Santa Clara, Calif.-based gene sequencing company Affymetrix Inc., to create a company that is part genome sequencing, part database management, part social network. It promises to join together millions of biologicial samples that are currently siloed at institutes around the world, and to do it using an open source platform.http://www.seas.harvard.edu/news-events/news-clips/gnubio-a-harvard-spinout-brings-open-source-to-genome-sequencing

I wonder how they will do it as an "open source" platform? The choice of name, GnuBio, suggests that it somehow could be related with GNU/Linux, especially as they're opting for an open source platform. So I guess this means everyone will be sharing their genome profiles by default? And is it genome-wide SNP for only 30 bucks? How much would that be? Like 30,000 SNPs or something?

[Aware_Dog]

Third-Generation sequencing from Pacific Biosciences


The technology qualifies as belonging to a new era because it’s “the first single-molecule real-time sequencer,” says Stephen Turner, the machine’s coinventor and the company’s chief technology officer, speaking to a packed auditorium at this year’s American Society of Human Genetics meeting.


The surprising advantage of real-time sequencing is that the machine can detect a natural stalling when, for example, the DNA polymerase encounters a methylated or otherwise modified base. The amount of time the polymerase stalls can be used to calculate different epigenetic modifications, adding a new layer of information to the sequencing data. The instrument costs $695,000; consumables and sequencing kits are sold separately.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dorm3n9VsxQ&feature=player_embedded

Source:http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/57835/

[beyoku]

Been watching the stock.
it IPO'd @ 16.oo and is currently at 13.00
Sound good but with Biotech its usually too good to be true.
I hear they got patent infringement issues too.

[Humanist]

Read this on DNA-Forums:


You can actually get your entire genome sequenced today (not just the Y chromosome) from several companies. If you have a medical issue that could be impacted by the sequencing (like AML), Illumina will do it for $9500. If you have five people with the same doctor, it’s $14500 apiece. And if it’s just you with no urgent medical issues, it’s $19500. All of these prices are coming down precipitously. Complete Genomics is also playing in this space and claims to do the work for $4000 now, but with a relatively high number of samples ordered at one time (~100).

[Unurautare]

Good,maybe I'll do one too if it's under 100 euros,23&whatnot is too expensive for my part of Europe.

[Aware_Dog]

University of Washington Department of Genome Sciences Joins Illumina Genome Network
Network Makes Affordable, High-Quality Whole Human Genome Sequencing Services More Accessible to Life Sciences Researchers

SAN DIEGO, Jun 29, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Illumina, Inc. /quotes/zigman/83650/quotes/nls/ilmn ILMN -0.26% today announced that the University of Washington (UW) Department of Genome Sciences has joined the Illumina Genome Network (IGN). IGN is a global partnership designed to link researchers seeking large-scale whole human genome sequencing services with leading institutions that provide such services using Illumina's sequencing technology.

Recent advancements in Illumina HiSeq(TM) sequencing system technology have enabled the company to lower the price for the service to $5,000 per genome for projects of 10 samples or more, and $4,000 for projects of 50 samples or more. By offering the speed, accuracy and high-quality data researchers require at price points they can afford, the Illumina Genome Network has raised the bar on whole human genome sequencing services.

"Illumina believes making whole genome sequencing more accessible to researchers worldwide is fundamental to enhancing our understanding of human biology and making breakthrough medical advances," said David Bentley, Vice President and Chief Scientist at Illumina. "We are very pleased that the University of Washington's Genomic Sciences Department, one of the world's leading genomic research facilities, now will make its state-of-the-art capabilities broadly available via the Illumina Genome Network."

Formed in 2001, the UW Department of Genome Sciences has used Illumina systems since 2008; its goal is to apply genetic, genomic and computational approaches to today's leading questions in biology and medicine.

All Illumina Genome Network partners are experienced and well-published using Illumina sequencers, and have completed Illumina's CSPro(R) (Certified Service Provider) certification. Each has 10 or more Illumina sequencing systems (Genome Analyzers and/or HiSeq 2000 systems) in their facility, providing the scalability to handle even the largest sequencing projects and the speed to provide data as quickly as possible. The UW Department of Genome Sciences joins the National Center for Genome Resources, Macrogen/Genomic Medicine Institute, and Illumina's own FastTrack Services as members of the Illumina Genome Network.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/university-of-washington-department-of-genome-sciences-joins-illumina-genome-network-2011-06-29

[Humanist]

Read more on Razib's blog: Not the great stagnation (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2011/09/not-the-great-stagnation/)

I’m moderately familiar with this trend, but it still boggles my mind that we’ve shifted two orders of magnitude in four years!

Price of a full genome sequence (from Razib's chart):

2007 = $1,000,000

2009 = $40,000

2011 = $7,000

---------- Post added 2011-09-17 at 00:49 ----------

Read about this in the comments to Razib's blog entry referred to above. :D

OpenPCR Machine Makes Your Basement A Crime Lab (http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/09/openpcr-machine-makes-your-basement-a-crime-lab/)

August 9, 2011

You’ve heard of the CSI effect, right? It’s this wacky “syndrome” whereby we’ve watched so much CSI Miami and Law and Order that we can’t fully put our weight behind a verdict without some solid DNA evidence. I guess it’s easy to forget that we had an entire legal system sans DNA for quite a while. In any case, we’ve apparently got an itch to be a bunch of white-coated forensic scientists, which is why we’re so lucky that this crazy, and also beautiful, machine exists in the world.

It’s called OpenPCR, and it’ll make science-style DIYers drool. PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction, and it’s a crucial tool for just about any type of modern molecular biology. The way it works is by amplifying a specific region of a super teency-weency strain of DNA, and after that I kind of got lost in the biological jargon, but it’s all explained here.

With OpenPCR, you can do two different types of tests: DNA Sequencing and DNA Barcoding. Sequencing is where you use the PCR machine to check out some of your own genome, while Barcoding is checking out what kind of species a certain bit of DNA belongs to. If you have yet to be convinced, just check out how these two girls used DNA Barcoding to uncover a New York City scandal (hint: 2 out of 4 Sushi restaurants and 6 out of 10 grocery stores were selling mislabeled fish.)

For $599, you’ll get all the parts to the machine, instructions to set it up, and 16 PCR samples — the way by which you target certain regions of the DNA. Features include a heated lid that eliminates condensation, 2-degree per second ramp time (Centigrade), and compatibility with Mac and PC.

OpenPCR (http://openpcr.org/)

[EliasAlucard]

It's unbelievable how fast the price for full genome sequencing is dropping. Makes me wonder if it was worth it to upgrade to v3. In any case, in two years it won't cost more than a 23andMe test costs today.

[timmay]

How suckish would it be to be the guy who (out of sheer curiosity) paid 1 million dollaz for it back in 2007

[Humanist]

From Razib Khan's Discover Magazine blog, Gene Expression: 243 full human genomes sequenced per second (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2011/09/243-full-human-genomes-sequenced-per-second/)

MIT Technology Review: ” At this exponential pace, by 2020 it may be feasible—mathematically, at least—to decode the DNA of every member of humanity in a single 12-month stretch.”

Read the entire bit by following the link, provided above.

[Humanist]

smartplanet.com: Expect a $1,000 genome by next year (http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/expect-a-1000-genome-by-next-year/11201?tag=nl.e550)


By next year, sequencing the human genome will be done in two hours and will cost $1,000, Ion Torrent’s Jonathan Rothberg said at a recent conference.

Ion Torrent’s DNA machine reads sequences based on chemicals and electronic technology.

I have no idea how realistic the projection is.

[Palisto]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/university-of-washington-department-of-genome-sciences-joins-illumina-genome-network-2011-06-29

Some nice videos explaining the technologies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77r5p8IBwJk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbjAMJehSlg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFNjxKHP8Jc

[annihilus]

smartplanet.com: Expect a $1,000 genome by next year (http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/expect-a-1000-genome-by-next-year/11201?tag=nl.e550)



I have no idea how realistic the projection is.

I think that is far too optimistic for one year. But you have seen gattaca, eventually if will come to that, being the same as ordering a cup coffee.

[Humanist]

Razib Khan, Gene Expression blog: I pledge my full genome to the public domain (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2011/12/i-pledge-my-full-genome-to-the-public-domain/)

Perhaps I’m naive, but my thought is that it’s fine to look at common diseases and common variants. But how are we going to find rare variants if we can’t pool lots and lots of individuals?

[Humanist]

Tiny Thumb Drive Can Decode an Entire Human Genome in Six Hours (Tiny Thumb Drive Can Decode an Entire Human Genome in Six Hours [Science]).


These days, a gene-slinger can do it in a few seconds. With a USB stick.

It’s called the MinION, and the scientists at Oxford Nanopore Technologies (http://www.nanoporetech.com/) who built it say the disposable device will be for sale later this year for $900.

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2012/02/dd8618fa0b064f30c6e2bfb7600bc920.jpg

[yahooland]

Tiny Thumb Drive Can Decode an Entire Human Genome in Six Hours (Tiny Thumb Drive Can Decode an Entire Human Genome in Six Hours [Science]).



http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2012/02/dd8618fa0b064f30c6e2bfb7600bc920.jpg

no url ?:mad:

[Humanist]

no url ?:mad:

Sorry. Tiny Thumb Drive Can Decode An Entire Human Genome In 6 Hours (http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/02/tiny-thumb-drive-can-decode-an-entire-human-genome-in-6-hours/)

[thetick]

Sorry. Tiny Thumb Drive Can Decode An Entire Human Genome In 6 Hours (http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/02/tiny-thumb-drive-can-decode-an-entire-human-genome-in-6-hours/)

Everyone is forgetting with a 6x-10x the error rate! It's just a foolish gimmicky toy unless of course the error rate can be lowered significantly. Much like home cholesterol test, they will be accurate enough not to be called fraud, but worthless for the knowledgeable.

[Ubirajara]

Henry Louis Gates had full genome sequencing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iikDliP5nW0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Genome_Project

[Jonny]

Does anyone know when I'll be able to clone myself for less than £5000?