Commercial, USB-Powered DNA Sequencer Coming This Year

Zothecula writes "Oxford Nanopore has been developing a disruptive nanopore-based technology for sequencing DNA, RNA, proteins, and other long-chain molecules since its birth in 2005. The company has just announced that within the next 6-9 months it will bring to market a fast, portable, and disposable protein sequencer that will democratize sequencing by eliminating large capital costs associated with equipment required to enter the field."

High error rate

[Guppy]

The technology has a 4% error rate, meaning that 4% of the bases are read incorrectly

Needs to drop an order of magnitude to be competitive, unless it's much cheaper than expected.

Re:Yes, goodie

[SomePgmr]

And even with this device, the article says:

During interviews just proceeding the product announcement at AGBT 2012, Clive Brown, the Chief Technology Officer of Oxford Nanopores, revealed that the expected $900 price tag for the MinION has a good bit of margin built in. We can thus expect prices to fall quickly as production becomes routine in its challenges.

Re:I'm going to sequence all my neighbors!

[richardkelleher]

Isn't this just another step closer to the world of Blade Runner? Soon Make! will have articles on home gene splicing and growing organs with your Arduino controlled Tissue Growth Chamber.