New method reads code in real time

Pacific Biosciences has developed a genetic sequencing method that avoids the need to chop DNA into strands and reassemble them. Instead, a single strand of DNA has different flourescent dyes attached to each nucleotide base. The strand is then read in real time as a series of flashes which are recorded as the DNA code. By 2013, the team plans to develop a chip that can record the entire DNA sequence in 30 minutes with 99.99% accuracy at a cost of less than $1000. 

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