‘Post-light’ genome sequencing chips

Progress towards cheaper and more compact DNA sequencing devices is limited by a number of factors, including the need for imaging technology. A new DNA sequencing technology that does away with optical readout, instead gathering sequence data by directly sensing hydrogen ions produced by template-directed DNA synthesis, offers a route to low cost and scalable sequencing on a massively parallel semiconductor-sensing device or ion chip. The reactions are performed using all natural nucleotides, and the individual ion-sensitive chips are disposable and inexpensive. The system has been used to sequence three bacterial genomes and a human genome: that of Gordon Moore of Moore's law fame.