Ultralow concentrations of DNA can be optically sequenced with SMRT DNA sequencing. In principle, optical DNA-sequencing protocols have the advantage of reading long strands of DNA in real time and at high speeds. In practice, however, reading long DNA strands is a challenge with current methods, which require high concentrations and suffer from short- chain loading bias. To overcome these limitations, a research team led by Meni Wanunu at Northeastern University in Boston has now developed an efficient voltage-controlled DNA- loading technology that enables single molecule, real time (SMRT) sequencing of long DNA strands at ultralow concentrations.
Journal: Nature methods
DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4487
Year: 2017