GATC Biotech has opened a new human genome analysis unit as part of its drive to sequence 100,000 human genomes for the pharma and biotech industry by 2014. The new unit is located at the firm’s headquarters in Konstanz, Germany, and will focus on the sequencing and analysis of human DNA samples of all sizes, from small enriched regions to entire genomes.
“By the end of 2010 we will have analyzed more than 100 genomes, an even higher number than announced in 2007,” states Kerstin Stangier, Ph.D., head of the new business unit and GATC director of business development. “The new business unit includes a LIMS-controlled production workflow with automated library preparation and an extensive bioinformatics pipeline which can be adapted to any project goal.”
GATC announced the opening of the new unit less than one week after it reported purchasing a Pacific Biosciences PacBio RS platform as its fifth sequencing system.