Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Complete Genomics promises to decode the human genome for $5,000 in the next year

California company Complete Genomics promises in the first half of next year to begin decoding the full genetic sequences at a price of just $ 5,000 for all of about 3 billion nucleotide pairs of the human genome. It is about 20 times cheaper than the current cost, 50-70 times less than the price offered to end-users and 100 thousand times less than the price of the first composite genome decoded in 2003.

According to The New York Times, Complete Genomics will not sell their services to end-customers directly, it is anticipated that it will work with companies that already «sell genomes» at a price ten times higher. Насколько снизится конечная цена, пока не ясно, но речь идёт, вероятно, о многократном падении стоимости услуги. It's not yet clear, how much the actual price will decrease, but it is likely to drop the cost of multiple services.

A leading manufacturer of equipment for decoding genomes, California company Applied Biosystems, has previously reported that its next-generation machines ready to enter the market, will be able to decipher the genome for about $ 10 thousand. However, this figure includes only reagents and other consumables, and do not include depreciation of equipment and the cost of the service personnel.

How Complete Genomics is going to reduce the price by half, is not yet clear, but the trend of lower prices leading manufacturers like Applied Biosystems and Illumina offers hope that the achievement of a $1000 goal per genome, which many experts see the beginning of an era of mass genomics.

No comments:

Post a Comment