Introduction to the Workshop
URLs Provided by Attendees

Abstracts

Mapping

Informatics

Sequencing

Instrumentation

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues

Infrastructure

The electronic form of this document may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, DOE Human Genome Program Contractor-Grantee Workshop IV, 1994.

Abstracts scanned from text submitted for November 1994 DOE Human Genome Program Contractor-Grantee Workshop. Inaccuracies have not been corrected.

Modular Instruments for Genome Mapping and Sequencing

Ger van den Engh, Richard Esposito, Jordan Hopkins, David Basiji, Barb Trask, Maynard Olson
Department of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Washington FJ-20, Seattle, 98195

Progress in the Human Genome effort will depend on the emergence of automated techniques for mapping and sequencing. We envision that the necessary scale enlargement (from a few MBases/year to a Mbase/day) will be achieved by processes of an industrial character. We expect that maximum efficiency will be obtained by organizing the mapping process into a chain of simple steps that are carried out by stations arranged along a linear "assembly" line. Samples will be processed sequentially rather than in synchronous batches. Sequential, pipe-lined operations carried out in parallel maximally utilize the capacity of the individual process elements.

We previously developed a modular, high performance flow cytometer, known as the MoFlo system. This instrument has been designed around a digital bus that accepts electronic modules that carry out the functions of flow cytometry and cell sorting. Event processing and data acquisition occur in a pipe-lined, parallel fashion. The optical system is similarly modularized and highly adaptable to different experimental requirements. This modular approach to instrument design resulted in a machine that compares favorably to competing designs with respect to simplicity of design, performance and ease of operation. MoFlo systems are being used with high efficiency and reliability for chromosome analysis, chromosome sorting and rare event analysis.

We are building on the experience gained in designing modular instruments for genome analysis. Modules of the high speed sorter are now being reconfigured for the mapping and sequencing process. To date, MoFlo modules have been utilized for the construction of a gel scanner for restriction fragment analysis and an instrument for bacterial-clone sorting and expansion. These instruments have common control and data exchange protocols. Our experience as well as designs for future modules will be presented. The prospects for integration into a autonomous mapping and sequencing process will be discussed.

This work was supported by U.S. D.O.E. grant DE-FG06-93ER61662.