Monday, March 31, 2008
Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium and the Centre for BioSystems Genomics co-financed the acquisition of a Roche Genome Sequencer FLX. Dr Roeland van Ham, cluster leader bioinformatics at WUR, is thrilled: “This ‘second generation’ equipment for DNA sequencing enables us to determine the entire DNA structure of plants a lot faster, on a much larger scale and at lower cost.”
Ten years ago, the sequencing of the human genome was effectuated by a large number of sequencers in a lab with the dimensions of a factory hall. Today, the capacity of sequencers has increased tremendously. “Thanks to our new genome sequencer, the GS FLX, we are able to read DNA 500 times faster”, says Roeland van Ham. The new equipment opens the door to very fast whole genome sequencing, to large scale expression analysis and to research projects on the small differences in DNA sequence between individuals. It will become possible to compare the entire DNA of closely related species and varieties. Van Ham: “Crucial information for the breeding of plants will be available a lot faster and at lower cost. The GS FLX helps us improving plants that feed the world.”
One of the first projects to benefit from the GS FLX is the international research into the genomes of the potato and tomato, being carried out by WUR, the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium and the Centre for BioSystems Genomics. Other plants, like strawberries, melon, lettuce and bean will follow. Van Ham: “Our research scope will not be limited to plant breeding. In the future, we will also use the equipment for research on white biotechnology (biofuels) and for ecological research purposes.”