Scientists have used Oxford Nanopore’s technology to sequence a whole human genome for the first time ever. The small portable device is challenging the technology of big players like Illumina.
Oxford Nanopore is one of the only 3 biotech unicorns in Europe. Its MinION device, the size of a Mars bar that connects to your laptop via USB, was just used to sequence the whole genome of a human sample for the first time. The sequencing was carried out by the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics and Genomics plc using multiple MinION devices.
This feat marks an inflection point in both the technology and economy behind DNA sequencing. Currently, Illumina‘s bulky and expensive equipment dominates 75% of the €4B next-generation sequencing (NGS) market, which is expected to triple by 2021.
