Firm Says Low-Cost Genome Sequencing Is Possible

THURSDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) -- A genome sequencing company says it has developed a lower-cost DNA platforming sequence.

Its report, including an analysis of data from three full human genomes, was published Nov. 5 in Science.

The company, Complete Genomics, said the consumables cost for three genomic DNA nanoarrays ranged from $1,726 to just over $8,000.

"We've demonstrated that it's possible to accurately and affordably sequence and detect variants across entire human genomes," Cliff Reid, chairman, president and chief executive of the company, said in a news release from the company. "This high-quality, cost-effective approach to genome sequencing will allow researchers to study complete genomes from hundreds of patients with a disease to advance the understanding of the genetic causes of that disease, with an end to preventing and treating common human ailments."

The company released its findings in a study that describes how they sequenced cell lines from two people -- a white man of European descent and a Yoruban female. Researchers also sequenced lymphoblast DNA from another white man.

The company, which said its techniques save on expenses and have a low error rate, expects to be able to sequence 10,000 human genomes next year.

--Randy Dotinga

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SOURCE: Complete Genomics, news release, Nov. 5, 2009