Wellcome Sanger Institute Increases Investment in PacBio Long-Read Sequencing to Support Darwin Tree of Life Research Initiative
January 08, 2021 at 08:00 am
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Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. announced that the Wellcome Sanger Institute has committed to purchase seven new Sequel IIe Systems and upgrade its five existing Sequel II Systems to increase its long-read sequencing capabilities for projects including the Darwin Tree of Life and Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics programs. Launched in October 2020, the Sequel IIe System is the company's newest instrument evolution based on its Single Molecule, Real-Time Sequencing technology. With 12 the company's Sequel IIe Systems soon to be in operation, the Wellcome Sanger Institute runs SMRT Sequencing facilities. As part of its new investment, the company novel highly accurate long reads, known as HiFi reads, will be utilized for whole genome sequencing to contribute to high-quality de novo assemblies of reference genomes for many species. To date, the company is HiFi sequencing has been employed for more than 300 genomes, including species such as the 2-spot ladybird, the blue-rayed limpet, and the red deer. The DToL project plans to sequence approximately 2,000 additional genomes as part of the first, two-year phase, generating reference genomes for about one-third of the families of organisms present in Britain and Ireland. The ASG project will produce 1,000 genome pairs from holobiont species. Plans also include expanding the use of the Sequel Systems for full-length RNA sequencing to catalog transcripts and isoforms for high-quality genome annotation. With increased computational capacity and on-instrument data processing, the new Sequel IIe System can directly produce HiFi reads more quickly and cost-effectively, providing scientists with a comprehensive view of genomes and transcriptomes. PacBio HiFi reads combine the accuracy of Sanger sequencing (>99.9%) with long reads (up to 25 kb). Together, the length and accuracy of HiFi reads make them ideal for de novo genome assembly, detection of variants from single nucleotide to large structural variants, and full-length transcripts for high-quality genome annotations.
Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. is a life science technology company. It is engaged in designing, developing, and manufacturing advanced sequencing solutions that enable scientists and clinical researchers to resolve genetically complex problems. Its products and technology under development stem from two differentiated core technologies, which include its HiFi long-read sequencing technology and its Sequencing by Binding (SBB) short-read sequencing technology. Its products address solutions across a set of applications, including human genetics, plant and animal sciences, infectious disease and microbiology, oncology, and other emerging applications. It has developed HiFi long-read sequencing based on Single-Molecule Real-Time technology, which accurately detects the nucleotide sequence and epigenetic status of individual DNA molecules. Its Revio, Sequel, Sequel II and Sequel IIe instruments conduct, monitor, and analyze single-molecule biochemical reactions in real time.