Pacific Biosciences

About Pacific Biosciences

Our mission is to transform the way humankind acquires, processes and interprets data from living systems through the design, development and commercialization of innovative tools for biological research.

We have developed a novel approach to studying the synthesis and regulation of DNA, RNA and protein. Combining recent advances in nanofabrication, biochemistry, molecular biology, surface chemistry and optics, we created a powerful technology platform called single molecule, real-time, or SMRT, technology. SMRT technology enables real-time analysis of biomolecules with single molecule resolution, which has the potential to transform our understanding of biological systems by providing a window into these systems that has not previously been open for scientific study.

Our initial focus is on the DNA sequencing market where we have developed and introduced a novel sequencing platform, the PacBio RS II. We believe that the PacBio RS II, which uses our proprietary SMRT technology, maintains many of the key attributes of currently available sequencing technologies while solving many of the inherent limitations of previous technologies. Our system provides long readlengths, flexibility in experimental design, fast time to result and significant ease of use. The PacBio RS II consists of an instrument platform that uses our consumables including our proprietary SMRT Cell. The system is designed to be integrated into existing laboratory workflows and information systems, which should facilitate rapid adoption. Currently, our focus is on applications for clinical, basic and agricultural research, with potential uses in molecular diagnostics, drug discovery and development, food safety, forensics, biosecurity and biofuels.

Our SMRT technology has the potential to impact scientific study beyond DNA sequencing. We, and our scientific collaborators, have published a number of peer-reviewed articles in journals including Science, Nature and Nature; Methods highlighting the power and potential applications of the SMRT platform. Potential commercial applications we have demonstrated include the study of chemical and structural modifications of DNA and the processing of RNA and; proteins. Our research and development efforts are focused on expanding our DNA sequencing capabilities and commercializing products based on these research findings. We believe that our SMRT platform represents a new paradigm in biological science, which we refer to as SMRT Biology, that has the potential to significantly impact a number of areas critical to humankind, including the diagnosis and treatment of disease as well as efforts to improve the world’s food and energy supply.