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AnonTechie [soylentnews.org] writes:

Genetic diseases are the leading cause of death for infants in the United States. Many doctors treating these infants rely on whole-genome sequencing to target the exact cause of the illness, and hopefully treat the disease in time. However, even the fastest sequencing technique till now has taken about 50 hours to complete, and many severely ill infants simply can’t wait that long.

Researchers at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, and the biotech company Edico Genome [edicogenome.com]--the same group that developed the original 50-hour test--have managed to cut that time almost in half by using a new device that performs whole genome sequencing in 26 hours--the fastest sequencing technique to date. Their results were published Tuesday in the journal, Genome Medicine.

While genome sequencing could help diagnose any individual with an unknown genetic disease, its rapid results are critically important for infants, as their symptoms are relatively vague--often just a fever, weight loss, or a cough--and they don’t yet have the ability to communicate the pain they feel. Whole genome sequencing can speak for that infant.

http://www.popsci.com/scientists-can-now-sequence-whole-genome-in-26-hours [popsci.com]

[Also Covered By]: EurekAlert [eurekalert.org]

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