Illumina has announced the release of sequencing chemistry kits and complementary software for its Genome Analyzer system.
These kits and software enable researchers to generate 40 per cent more reads per run and extend read length to greater than 75 base pairs (bp).
Also launched is the Mate Pair Library preparation kit, which provides support for generating longer insert paired-end libraries and is complementary to Illumina's existing short-end paired libraries.
These improvements enable researchers to generate 10 to 15 Gigabases (Gb) of high-quality data per run, more than doubling the output previously attainable on the Genome Analyzer.
Illumina's combination of high density and long reads allows researchers to take on a broad range of projects, such as whole human genome sequencing and de novo sequencing of complex organisms.
In addition to the higher output and longer reads afforded by the kits and software, Illumina's flexible mate pair technique allows researchers to generate paired-end insert libraries measuring two to five kilobases (kb) to catalogue large structural variations.
Coupled with Illumina's standard paired-end insert libraries (200-500 bp), which are necessary for detection of smaller structural variants, these kits provide researchers with a set of library preparation tools for accurate sequencing and characterisation of complex genomes.
Under an early access programme, researchers at the National Center for Genome Resources (NCGR) have started working with the long read and Mate Pair Library kits.
At NCGR, the long read and mate pair chemistries are enabling cotton de novo and human resequencing projects.
Four of the Genome Analyzers are dedicated to 2 x 88 and 2 x 106 base pair runs, generating up to 20.5 Gigabases per run and a raw accuracy of more than 99 per cent over 106 base pairs.
