Want to Build A Sequencer? 454.bio Opens Up Their Plans

Just as the AGBT hype cycle was firing up (with me contributing multiple sparks), serial entrepreneur Jonathan Rothberg's latest sequencing startup 454.bio fully de-stealthed their technology this weekend, going so far as to release open source plans to build an instrument prototype.   454.bio  is aiming to build a Keurig-sized device to retail for $100, with sequencing runs in the $20 range.  To accomplish this, they're attempting a novel twist on sequencing-by-synthesis.   It's an unconventional strategy by someone who has succeeded twice before in DNA sequencing (454 and Ion Torrent) and has multiple other companies going (if I've counted correctly)   - QuantumSI in protein sequencing (a future topic for this space, I promise!), ButterflyNetworks with inexpensive, compact diagnostics ultrasound and Hyperfine with inexpensive, compact MRI diagnostic devices.  Then I went to the4Catalyzer site - Rothberg's incubator - and discovered a bunch of companies I hadn't heard of or had forgotten about -- Protein Evolution in synthetic biology for plastics production, Detect for home-based diagnostics instruments, AI Therapeutics in the rare disease space and Liminal with what looks like consumer brain scanning.   That's quite a series of companies!    But the one closest to my heart (sorry QuantumSI :-) is  454.bio, and their announcements have many interesting facets which I'll dive into.Read more »
Source: Omics! Omics! - Category: Bioinformatics Authors: Source Type: blogs