Carlsbad Company Unveils DNA Sequencer


Life Technologies Sequencer At Consumer Electronics Show In Las Vegas


POSTED: 6:37 pm PST January 10, 2012
UPDATED: 7:10 pm PST January 10, 2012


CARLSBAD, Calif. -- A local company is leading the way in technology that is being called a game changer for DNA mapping and personalized medicine.
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Carlsbad-based Life Technologies unveiled the ion proton sequencer at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
 
The $149,000 sequencer is a follow-up to the company's $49,500 ion torrent. The new sequencer can sequence an entire human genome in just a few hours as opposed to a few weeks. The cost to sequence one genome will be $1,000 as opposed to $5,000 to $10,000.
"It allows cost and time barriers to come down, which means hundreds of thousands of people could have their DNA sequenced," said Rob Bennett, the vice president of research and development for Life Technologies.
The sequencer utilizes a semiconductor chip instead of microscopes and optics, which makes it cheaper and quicker.
The sequencer is expected to move DNA mapping from the lab to the doctor's office, where patients can quickly determine if they are predisposed to certain diseases. Mapping the genome can also help treat diseases such as cancer.
"Genetic sequence of cancer cells will determine what mutations are present and determine which treatments will be effective and which will not," said Bennett. "More DNA sequencing could also mean samples for disease research, which could be very important."
The life-saving technology could also spark a privacy debate, which would tackle issues such as how much insurance companies should know and if the data could be used to discriminate.
When asked if there could be abuse if DNA sequencing becomes more mainstream, Bennett replied, "We believe in the benefits of DNA sequencing. We are in favor of regulation and are working with the FDA and other research groups on that matter."
Another question is if regulation can keep up with a technology that is advancing quickly.
Company officials expect the ion proton sequencer to be available by the end of the year.