Do-It-Yourself DNA Sequencing

Posted by Brady at 7:53 PM

Typically, the equipment necessary for performing DNA diagnostic testing would cost about $500,000. However, a small company called Ion Torrent has developed a "desktop" DNA sequencing chip that sells for around $50,000. I found it very interesting that the inventors essentially modified or "tinkered" with semi conductor chips that are already able to be mass produced cheaply, in order to make an affordable machine. The article mentions that at this new low price, money-strapped hospitals around the world will now be able to afford these machines and perform DNA diagnostic testing. It is also mentioned that the semi conductor chip used in the machine is proprietary. If the chip is eventually made open-source, I would imagine the price of this technology would quickly plummet further as more and more individuals could collaborate on the design.
Check out the article for yourself!

 

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3 comments:

  1. ebrucks said... December 10, 2010 at 7:46 PM

    While we have learned of many interesting innovations over the course of the semester, I believe that the most valuable ones are those that have something to do with medicine and science. Some innovations are just cool products, but innovations like the one from this post are the ones that will truly make a difference in peoples lives.  

  2. WisconsInnovation said... December 10, 2010 at 11:23 PM

    Nice posting. As you point out, it will be really interesting to see what happens if and when the main chip that powers this device becomes open-source. This would likely drive down the cost substantially, which would enable this device to pop up in all sorts of places, perhaps even in homes?  

  3. dip4fish said... July 10, 2013 at 7:36 AM

    50000$ still expensive  

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