DNA sequencing on a chip.

Faster methods than are currently available will be needed to sequence the billions of base pairs of DNA in the human genome in a reasonable number of years and without exhausting available funds. A new sequencing technology in which DNA binds or hybridizes' to an array of oligonucleotides on a silicon chip appears to be promising as a high-throughput alternative to conventional sequencing and is currently under development at several companies and research consortia in the United States. Hyseq (Sunnyvale, CA) claims its DNA sequencing systems will be able to sequence thousands of base pairs of DNA in minutes per sample on disposable silicon chips an inch or less on a side. The eventual cost of sequencing, according to the company, will be pennies per base pair as opposed to the current gel-sequencing cost of several dollars per base pair. Beckman instruments (Fullerton, CA) and Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA), which are also exploring the use of oligonucleotide arrays for de novo gene sequencing, are concentrating on develoging dedicated chips using the basic technique for applications such as resequencing for confirmation, monitoring gene expression and physical gene mapping. This paper outlines the process, problems and marketing issues. 1 fig.