System promises to sequence tens of thousands of human whole genomes a year in a single laboratory. What do the first customers think? Life science technology company Illumina recently launched a sequencing platform that it claims will enable the $1,000 genome. The HiSeq X Ten Sequencing System comprises 10 ultra-high-throughput sequencers which together can sequence more than 18,000 genomes per year, making human whole-genome sequencing more affordable and accessible than ever before. The system builds on the proven performance of SBS (sequencing by synthesis) technology and features patterned flow cells that contain billions of nanowells at fixed locations; this, combined with a new clustering chemistry, generates data density of 6 billion clusters per run. Add in the state-of-the art optics and faster chemistry, and the result is a tenfold increase in daily throughput over the current HiSeq 2500 high-throughput sequencing system. The new platform is sold as a set of 10 or more ultra-high throughput sequencing systems, each generating up to 600 gigabases per day, per system, providing the throughput to sequence tens of thousands of high-quality, high-coverage genomes per year. Among the first customers for the system are the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia; the Broad … Continue reading →