Ion Torrent first to enter newly revised $10m X-Prize genome sequencing contest
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 - 08:02
in Biology & Nature
(Phys.org) -- Ion Torrent signified its intention to win the $10 million prize that will be given to whoever can sequence the entire genome of 100 people over the age of 100 in just one month's time, by signing up as an entrant in the latest X-Prize contest. The winner must also complete their sequencing in a way that costs a thousand dollars or less per genome, a formidable proposition to be sure as current estimates typically run three to five thousand dollars. Theres also an accuracy test at the end, which appears to have caused some of the big names in the field to hesitate in throwing their hats into the ring. Results must be at least 95% complete.