Speeding up DNA sequencing
7 July 2007The principles of classical hydrodynamics are now being examined for speeding up the DNA sequencing and that will automatically reduce the overall cost of sequencing. The process of sequencing uses a nanopore through which DNA moves and by the technique individual DNA molecule is detected, however as the movement of DNA molecule is so fast that at present it is impossible to read the individual bases or letter A, T, G and C. These letters are genome alphabets and represent the base nucleotide of DNA molecule.
At present the cost of sequencing is very high and The National Institute of Health would like to bring down the cost to $1000 by the year 2014. It is a challenging job for scientists and researchers as lot of hurdles are there in the way and lots of efforts will require achieving it. The first complete genome containing 3 billion base pairs of Noble Laureate James D. Watson cost $ 1 million and it two months.
The associate professor of mechanical engineering in North western’s McCormick school of engineering and applied science, Sandeep Ghosal applied first time classical hydrodynamics and published his finding in Journal Physical Review Letters (PRL) of June 8 issue. He claimed that by applying an electric force the DNA is pulled, however a resistive force also acts simultaneously. DNA pulls some fluid from the surrounding however the internal forces in the surrounding fluid layer creates resistance and he calculated all the mathematical details of interaction of DNA with nanopore.
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