Acquisition of DNA Sequencers: A Consortium Project

由斯坦福大学基因组中心(Ron Davis)/宾夕法尼亚大学(Joe Ecker)/和PGEC/USDA-UCBerkeley(A.Theologis)组成的联盟要求6台ABI自动377型DNA测序仪对拟南芥基因组15Mb的DNA进行测序。该联盟已经向美国国家科学基金会提出，它将能够以目前的DNA测序仪能力在三年内实现这一目标，成本为0.67美元/个碱基。购买额外的DNA测序仪(每个参与地点两台)是合理的，原因如下：1.这将使该项目能够在两年而不是三年内完成，并且每个碱基的成本相同。2.斯坦福基因组中心正在开发新的仪器，它将以更快的速度和更低的成本产生DNA测序反应。因此，额外的DNA测序仪将是必要的，以充分利用这一新技术，以实现更高的DNA序列产量。3.我们提出的在三年内完成15Mb DNA测序的建议是基于这样的假设，即ABI将履行其承诺，在1996年春季之前将373和377测序仪升级到通道/凝胶。如果这一承诺得不到兑现，将需要额外的测序仪来完成15Mb DNA测序项目。拟南芥基因组测序联盟的建立将提供一个将技术从一个主要中心(斯坦福大学)转移到其他大学的全国范例。这将为未来的基因组研究培训年轻的科学家(博士生、博士后)。

Six ABI automated Model 377 DNA Sequencers are requested by the Consortium formed among the Stanford Genome Center (Ron Davis)/the University of Pennsylvania (Joe Ecker)/ and PGEC/USDA-UCBerkeley (A. Theologis) for sequencing 15 Mb of DNA of the Arabidopsis genome. The consortium has proposed to the NSF that it will be able to achieve this goal with its current capacity in DNA sequencers within three years at a cost of $0.67/base. The acquisition of additional DNA sequencers (two by each participating site) is justifiable for the following reasons: 1. It will allow the completion of the project in two instead of three years and at the same cost per base. 2. New instrumentation is being developed at the Stanford Genome Center which will produce DNA sequencing reactions more rapidly and at lower cost. Consequently, the additional DNA sequencers will be necessary to utilize this new technology to full capacity in achieving higher DNA sequence production. 3. Our proposal to complete 15 Mb of DNA sequencing in three years is based on the assumption that ABI will honor its commitment to release the upgrade of the 373 and 377 sequencers to 64 lanes/gel by spring, 1996. If this commitment is not honored, additional sequencers will be required for completing the 15 Mb DNA sequencing project. The establishment of a Consortium for sequencing the Arabidopsis genome will provide a national example of transferring technology from a major Center (Stanford) to other universities. This will allow the training of young scientists (Ph.D. students, postdocs) for future genomic research.