Nanopore Sequencing, DNA Sequencing for Cheap

The development of DNA sequencing is a science that has been rapidly progressing as time has progressed in the past couple of years. Since this process is gaining so much fan fare many technologies are vying  to be at the forefront. One such technology is the called nanopore sequencing. Nanopore sequencing as performed by researchers is the process of sending DNA through a protein pore and constantly reading the DNA as it progresses through the protein. Eventually a new type of machine will be developed that would perform the reading electronically. With this new technology the price of reading a complete human genome would drop to about $1000. Since the price dropped so dramatically the new tech should help progress personalized medicine.



In comparison to the various other methods of DNA sequencing which could take multiple days of work. Nanopore sequencing which removes plenty of the unnecessary steps in the process by sequencing a single unchanged or modified DNA strand. This could make nanopore sequencing the quickest and cheapest DNA sequecing method in the world. The original idea was first developed in 1996 and major strides have been made since then allowing scientist to drive the protein through the pores of an electrical film. Depending on what bases travel through the net different changes to the electric charge are experianced which can be read by sensitive computers. Allowing scientist to determine which bases have traveled through. There is one major snag though. Since the film is electrified, this effects the speed in which the DNA travels through it. Due to this tremendous speed it was nearly impossible to read the entire DNA strand. A solution has arisen however, two years ago a scientist and his colleagues whose name is Mark Akeson added the protein phi29. this protein grabs onto the DNA strand and slows down the process of traveling through the pore. Another physist at the University of Washington also incorporated the protein in there nanopore sequencing experiment and agree with the results of Mark Akeson. Eventually they hope to be able to sequence an entire genome in 15 minutes and for about $1000 dollars. Until the majority of genetics researchers see proof they only hope what these scientists are doing is possible because it holds countless possibilities.