A paper in Science (Real-Time DNA Sequencing from Single Polymerase Molecules) has reported a new technique that can sequence DNA 30,000 times faster than current techniques. The researchers are using tiny hollow metal cylinders (ZMW waveguides) on a chip to isolate single molecules of DNA and visualise the flourescing nucleotides as they are incorporated into DNA chains. There is a quicktime movie of this happening and a podcast interview with the researchers. The possibility of being able to sequence an entire human genome in under half an hour to 99.999% accuracy for under $1000 has become very real (at least this is what the biotech company conducting the research hopes).
The impact on bioinformatic research would be huge.
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UWA Centre for Software Practice in 2006 and have been developing software for universities and in the e-Health market.
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