IBS Sequencing By Synthesis Technology
Breakthrough Process
IBS has a proprietary, patented DNA sequencing
by synthesis (SBS) technology (see our founder's PNAS article) capable of reading out the sequence of DNA with
very a high precision, rapid pace and low cost.
Speed and cost advantages come through the ability to sequence millions
of samples in parallel on a single chip. The technology incorporates unique
advances in DNA sequence readout and DNA sample preparation enabling the
development of a very low cost, high throughput system. The technology
overcomes the limited throughput and high costs of conventional electrophoretic
technologies and most deficiencies of other new generation
non-electrophoresis-based sequencing methods.
Three Step SBS Process.
In this process the DNA is first broken into fragments,
amplified, attached to a DNA sequence primer, then affixed as a high-density
array of spots onto a glass chip. To read out the sequence of each of the
spots, the array of fragments is first subjected to reagents containing
uniquely engineered DNA bases that include a removable fluorescent dye and an
end cap. These bases attach themselves
(Extend) to the end of the growing strand of DNA in accordance with the base on
the complementary strand. The array is
scanned by a high-resolution electronic camera (Measure) and the fluorescent
output of each of four dye colors at each array position is measured and
recorded. The color indicates which base (A, C, G or T) was just incorporated
in the DNA fragment in the previous step.
Finally, the array is exposed to cleavage chemistry (Cleave) to break
off the fluorescent dye and end cap that will now allow additional bases to be
added. The Extend, Measure and Cleave cycle is then repeated.
Read more about the details of the chemistry
