A COST-EFFECTIVE CCD DNA SEQUENCE READER

该项目的目标是开发并最终实现商业化 一种实用、低成本的DNA序列阅读器，用于快速 扩大DNA测序在大学、私立和 工业研究实验室。DNA序列阅读器将使用 一种独特的光学系统来重新格式化狭长的DNA序列 转换为非常高效的正方形格式，非常适合 使用二维电荷耦合器件(CCD)的数字化 数组。因此，序列读取器将非常快， 只需0.03秒即可将整个放射自显影数字化 在高分辨率下。此外，因为序列读取器可以 利用二维数据数组而不是一维数据数组， 它具有更高的精度和可靠性 比以往任何时候都要好。这一能力将使 可能的高速、高可靠性的DNA测序，即使是在 操作员在解释DNA测序凝胶方面不熟练。 这将促进和简化基本研究方法的使用 这已经成为开发新疫苗的关键， 多肽激素和许多其他与医学有关的生物 分子。方法是建立一个精致的DNA序列阅读器， 基于第一阶段工作的令人兴奋的结果，并测试 并在内部和阿尔法测试现场对其进行评估。因为 该项目已经产生了一种创新的技术解决方案 关于将凝胶图像呈现优化到高质量的基本问题 速度2D固态成像阵列，我们有信心 相当大的商业潜力。

The goal of this program is to develop and ultimately commercialize a functional, low cost DNA sequence reader for use in rapidly expanding DNA sequencing applications in university, private and industrial research laboratories. The DNA sequence reader will use a unique optical system to reformat the long, narrow DNA sequence image into a very efficient square format well suited for digitization using a two dimensional charge coupled device (CCD) array. The sequence reader will, therefore, be very fast, requiring only 0.03 seconds to digitize the entire autoradiogram at high resolution. Further, because the sequence reader can utilize two dimensional, rather than one dimensional, data arrays, it has the capacity of greater precision and greater reliability than has previously been possible. This capacity will make possible high speed, high reliability DNA sequencing, even for operators unskilled in the interpretation of DNA sequencing gels. This will promote and ease the use of a basic research technique that has become critical to the development of new vaccines, peptide hormones and many other medically relevant biological molecules. The approach is to build a refined DNA sequence reader, based on the exciting results of the Phase I effort, and to test and evaluate it both in-house and at an alpha test site. Because this project has already led to an innovative technical solution to the basic problem of optimizing gel image presentation to high speed 2D solid state imaging arrays, we are confident that it has considerable commercial potential.