Genetics

Entire Family Gets Genome Sequenced

Illumina, Inc. has announced that it has sequenced the DNA of four members of the one family. It's the first publicly named family to have their DNA sequenced to full coverage by the company. The service was completed using Illumina's Genome Analyzer technology.

From the press release:

"We are excited to work with the Wests to produce our first named family DNA sequence," said Jay Flatley, president and CEO of Illumina. "John West has been a leader in this field for almost 30 years, including his tenure as CEO of Solexa prior to that company's acquisition by Illumina in 2007. We're delighted to welcome him back as a customer, and appreciate the vote of confidence in selecting Illumina to provide his family's sequencing. This represents an important step forward for genetic research as sequencing moves from single individuals to full families. More comprehensive information about a family's genetic makeup will lead to greater understanding of the human genome and help physicians make better healthcare decisions for their patients in the future."

"Sequencing individuals provides fantastic visibility into our genetic makeup," said Mr. West, who is currently CEO of Novocell, Inc., a stem cell engineering company. "By sequencing a family of at least four we can go a step further to interpret compound heterozygote variations in genes - those cases where multiple variations in a single gene, but on opposing chromosome copies, combine as a virtual homozygote. I expect that these are much more prevalent, and the source of much more phenotypic variability, than previously understood. Working with medical geneticists, we look forward to exploring this new visibility into factors influencing our future health."

Press Release: Via Illumina