Solexa Genome Analysis System Targets Human Genome Sequence In 2006
Hayward, CA - Solexa, Inc. announced the introduction of the Company's DNA sequencing, expression profiling and micro-RNA analysis platform, the Solexa Genome Analysis System. The System, which comprises the Solexa 1G Genetic Analyzer, the Solexa Cluster Station and associated reagents, consumables, and software, is designed to generate over a billion bases of sequence per run. In addition to introducing the Solexa Genome Analysis System, the Company today announced plans to sequence the entire genome of a human in 2006 and to make sequence data publicly available.
With its significant data density and low operating cost, the Solexa Genome Analysis System has the potential to dramatically increase productivity while reducing costs by over two orders of magnitude relative to current state-of-the-art DNA sequencing technologies. The System is also intended to enable researchers to generate economical sequence-based digital readout of transcript abundance by assessing up to 5 million transcript tags per sample at costs comparable to those of hybridization arrays.
"This is an exceptionally exciting time for all of us at Solexa and the global research community. We believe that the versatility and cost profile of our groundbreaking Solexa Genome Analysis System have the potential to improve productivity significantly at the largest sequencing and expression centers as well as at core facilities and even individual laboratories," said John West, Solexa's chief executive officer. "This product introduction takes us a significant step closer to becoming the first company to deliver whole human genome sequencing at $100,000 per genome."
"We expect to begin accepting orders to purchase systems and to ship initial production units during the second quarter of next year," added Mr. West.
In October, Solexa announced that Company scientists had sequenced a human Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) on an early laboratory prototype instrument. Using the newer, laser-based instrument that is part of the Solexa Genome Analysis System, the 1G Genome Analyzer, Solexa scientists have achieved the same level of coverage, consensus accuracy and polymorphism detection as in the earlier work.
Sequencing a Human Genome in 2006
Solexa also announced its intention to use the Solexa Genome Analysis System to sequence the entire genome of a human during 2006. The individual DNA will be chosen by Solexa from among the set of anonymous samples recently used in the International Haplotype Mapping Project (HapMap) on the basis of scientific merit and the availability of fully informed consent for its use, including free public release of the sequence data. This sequencing project is intended to afford the Company and researchers throughout the world the opportunity to compare results generated by the Solexa Genome Analysis System with other publicly available data.
"In sequencing a human genome, our aim is to demonstrate the performance of the Solexa Genome Analysis System. We expect this endeavor to display the suitability of our platform for rapid and cost-effective human genome sequencing and to pave the way for new applications in medical sequencing, such as the Cancer Genome Project," stated Dr. David Bentley, chief scientist of Solexa. "Solexa intends to release sequence data at regular intervals in 2006, so that researchers can objectively assess the output of the Solexa Genome Analysis System in comparison with previously validated, high-quality genetic data already in the public domain."
SOURCE: Solexa