Clifford Reid, president and CEO of Complete Genomics Inc., which provides whole-genome sequencing services. “We’re waiting to learn more before deciding whether to join,” said Dr. The human genome has 6 billion bases, or chemical “letters” that spell out genes. “We haven’t entered so far and haven’t announced any intention to do so for the time being,” said a spokeswoman for privately held Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd., which caused a stir at a technology conference in February when it unveiled a device the size of a USB memory stick capable of sequencing 150 megabases of DNA per hour.
In January, Illumina announced that its next-generation sequencer, HiSeq 2500, will be able to sequence a human genome in about a day. “Illumina does not plan to participate,” said a spokeswoman for the company, which fought off a takeover attempt by Roche Holding AG earlier this year. Besides the cash and bragging rights, the company that sequences the genomes of 100 centenarians could stumble on some fascinating science and new leads in drug discovery. No other genome-sequencing companies contacted by Reuters said they intended to compete for the centenarian X Prize. “The other reason is that, despite what their ads say, their technology doesn’t measure up. But when I look at their stock price I see that’s actually a good fraction of their market capitalization,” he said of companies like Life Technologies and Illumina. “One is that $10 million isn’t a significant sum to them. He serves as a trustee of the foundation that created the prize. “I can think of two reasons why companies have not signed up,” said geneticist Craig Venter, who led the private sector effort to sequence the complete human genome, finishing in a dead heat with a government-backed project in 2000. In January, the company said its Ion Proton Sequencer was ready to sequence a complete human genome in a day at a cost of $1,000. No one else has been game since the contest was announced in 2006, when it would have taken 33 years and $100 million to do 100 genomes, estimates Ion Torrent founder and CEO Dr. The Archon Genomics X Prize will award $10 million to the first team that sequences the complete genomes of 100 people aged 100 or older in 30 days or less, for no more than $1,000 each, and with an error rate of no more than 0.0001 percent. NEW YORK (Reuters) - A genome-sequencing contest announced six years ago finally has its first entrant: Life Technologies Corp.’s Ion Torrent, which on Monday said it was entering the fray.
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