Company unveils DNA sequencing device meant to be portable, disposable and cheap
February 18, 2012 | Source: New York Times
The GridION technology has been miniaturized into the portable MinION device for electronic single-molecule sensing (credit: Oxford Nanopore Technologies)
DNA sequencing is becoming both faster and cheaper. Now, it is also becoming tinier.
Oxford Nanopore Technologies said on Friday that by the end of 2012 it would begin selling a “pay-as-you-go” disposable gene sequencing device that is the size of a USB memory stick and plugs into a laptop computer to deliver its results.
The less-than-$900 MinION device could allow small sequencing jobs to be done by researchers who cannot afford $50,000 to $750,000 sequencing machines.
It might also help doctors sequence genes at a patient’s bedside, wildlife biologists to study genes in the field, or food inspectors to identify pathogens.
A minaturized version of the company’s larger GridION device, the MinION uses pores made from bacterial proteins. An electric current flows through the pore. The DNA bases interrupt the current in different ways as they go through.
Also see: Press release
Comments (9)
by mark
Is Agilent still a relevant player in the sequencing world in light of this fantastic advance?
by Barrett Hoffarth
It is so exciting to see history play itself out in front of our eyes. It’s like watching Thomas Edison invent the light bulb and already know how much his invention will change the lives of people around the world. I look forward to the day when getting your genome sequenced is just an ordinary part of getting treated in a hospital/ doctors office.
by Spikosauropod
It feels like we are entering the elbow of the curve, doesn’t it. I keep hearing people say, “In 50 years we will be able to [fill in the blank].” Then, in one year, someone actually does it.
by Joseph
It won’t be long before the GOP pushes a bill that requires people to take one of these tests to receive welfare.
by Spikosauropod
To Joseph:
Does a backhanded slap to one third of the United States really belong in this discussion?
by Joseph
Um, no.
by Logic
The Law of Accelerating Returns on display. Predictable, but still incredibly exciting.
by Spikosauropod
Wasn’t it just last year that the cost of a sequencer went below one million dollars? Advancements are coming so fast now that manufacturers risk being undercut before they can go to production.
by Jotto999
Hmm, I was not expecting a handheld gene sequencer for a few more years. Very promising stuff.