New firm will sequence genome for $5,000

Complete Genomics, a California, USA-based, third-generation human genome sequencing company, has been formally launched as the world's first provider of large-scale human genome sequencing services.

The company will offer high-quality, high-throughput, affordable, complete human genome sequencing services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms from what it says is the world's largest commercial human genome sequencing center. By offering a sequencing service instead of following the traditional instrument sales model, the company intends to allow its customers to focus their resources on scientific discovery. Clifford Reid, chief executive of the new firm, claims it will be the first to sequence complete human genomes for less than $1,000 in material costs, and that this "will allow us to offer complete human genomes for just $5,000 by the second quarter of 2009."

After the company launches its third-generation human DNA sequencing service, it plans to sequence 1,000 genomes in 2009 and 20,000 genomes in 2010. Over the next five years, the company projects that 10 additional genome sequencing centers will be able to sequence one million complete human genomes. To put this in context, it says fewer than 20 complete human genomes have been sequenced in the world to date. In addition, the firm is also developing sophisticated analysis tools that will help its customers interpret their data. Such tools will allow them to browse data, assemble genomes, annotate and compare genomes, as well as run association studies.