China releases world's fastest and most accurate DNA sequencer

Chinese-made third generation DNA sequencer GenoCare was released on Monday in the city of Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province. 

Chinese-made third generation DNA sequencer GenoCare is released in the city of Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province on Monday, July 31, 2017. [Photo: sohu.com]

With full automation, the machine, developed by a research team from the Southern University of Science and Technology, can sequence samples of human genomes in less than 30 minutes with an accuracy up to 99.7 percent, making it one of the fastest and most precise DNA sequencers in the world. 

The sequencer is the first of its kind that can be applied to clinical practice. 

Prof. He Jiankui, leader of the research team, said the sequencer is expected to lower the cost of DNA sequencing of any person from the current 1,000 US dollars to 100 US dollars, enabling everyone to enjoy benefits brought by accurate treatment from DNA sequencing.

The core technology of GenoCare is single-molecule fluorescence sequencing. The machine detects single-molecule fluorescence by employing total internal reflection microscopy, together with sequencing-by-synthesis chemistry.