Pacific Biosciences of California has a product to help scientists solve genetically complex problems – the PacBio RS High Resolution Genetic Analyzer. It is based on its novel Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) technology and enables scientists to increase their understanding of biological systems.

The company today announced the latest enhancements to its DNA sequencing system. The XL release features new chemistry and software for extraordinary long read lengths that average 5,000 bases. With this latest advance, the average read length increases 67% from 3,000 to 5,000 bases and with some reads as long as 20,000 bases. This is an order of magnitude longer than other leading DNA sequencing technologies currently on the market.

The new XL release provides increased read lengths through a combination of chemistry and software. The new chemistry includes a faster polymerase that reads more bases per second. In addition, the Stage Start feature produces longer reads by enabling sequence data collection to begin when the polymerase is activated. PacBio has also increased the length of time the instrument can record data during the sequencing reaction.

The usefulness of the latest upgrade by the company was demonstrated by scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory who were trying to assemble the complex rice genome. The upgraded chemistry produced nine times the coverage with long reads – 50% of the data came from reads 4,800 base pairs or longer.

For additional information on Pacific Biosciences of California and its PacBio RS High Resolution Genetic Analyzer, visit www.pacb.com

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