Enhancing long read sequencing capabilities for genome and transcriptome research

Genomics organisation BGI has announced that a Roche GS FLX+ System has been successfully installed at its facility in Shenzhen, China. It is hoped that the system will complement the existing array of short read sequencing technologies and enhance BGI’s long read sequencing capability.

The system, developed by 454 Life Sciences, a Roche company, features a combination of long reads, good accuracy and high throughput. This makes it suitable for larger genome projects.

“We’re excited that BGI has implemented our GS FLX+ System in their Shenzhen facility,” said Thomas Schinecker, President of 454 Life Sciences. “This again demonstrates the continued importance of the GS FLX+ platform and its utility as a powerful replacement for Sanger sequencing applications.”

“We are very pleased to have Roche’s GS FLX+ System,” said Meifang Tang, Director of the NGS Department at BGI. “So far, the system has been operated successfully with a stable performance. We can achieve the read lengths of up to 1000 bp reads in our laboratory. With the implementation of this system, we hope assemblies will be greatly improved with fewer gaps, longer contigs and scaffolds in de novo genomics and transcriptomic research.”

Roche and BGI have worked closely together over the years, making collaborative efforts to develop methodologies and tools to assist scientists pursuing genomics research. Last November, Roche NimbleGen and BGI developed a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region capture technology that will help advance research and development of new medicines for human diseases.

“In the future, I hope we can cooperate even more closely, and make more breakthroughs in life science,” added Tang.