Improved picoliter-sized micro-reactors for high-throughput biological analysis.

High-throughput pyrosequencing, carried out in millions of picoliter-sized reactors on a fiber-optic slide, is known for its longer read length. However, both optical crosstalk (which reduces the signal-to-noise ratio of CCD images) and chemical retention adversely affect the accuracy of chemiluminescence determination, and ultimately decrease the read length and the accuracy of pyrosequencing results. In this study, both titanium and oxidized aluminum films were deposited on the side walls and upper faces of micro-reactor slides to enhance optical isolation; the films reduced the inter-well crosstalk by one order of magnitude.

The next-generation sequencing technology: a technology review and future perspective.

As one of the most powerful tools in biomedical research, DNA sequencing not only has been improving its productivity in an exponential growth rate but also been evolving into a new layout of technological territories toward engineering and physical disciplines over the past three decades. In this technical review, we look into technical characteristics of the next-gen sequencers and provide prospective insights into their future development and applications. We envisage that some of the emerging platforms are capable of supporting the $1000 genome and $100 genome goals if given a few years for technical maturation.

[Nonsyndromic hereditary deafness genes research progress and related databases].

Deafness is the most prevalent sensory system impairment of human, and 70% of genetic deafness belongs to nonsyndromic hearing impairment. The total number of genes involved in nonsyndromic hereditary deafness has been estimated to above 100. So far, approximate 80 loci have been mapped to human chromosome, and 23 genes have been identified.