Roche Diagnostics' Genome Sequencer 20 System Powers MWG Biotech AG/ Eurofins | Medigenomix Sequencing Service

Roche Diagnostics has supplied the Genome Sequencer 20 system to Eurofins | Medigenomix / MWG Biotech. Through the purchase of the GS 20 system, Eurofins | Medigenomix / MWG Biotech becomes the first international service provider in Germany to offer their customers access to the next generation of DNA sequencing technology via their production facility in Martinsried.

By combining the companies’ current sequencing platform, mainly based on Sanger method, and the GS 20 technology, MWG and Medigenomix are able to sequence and compare bacterial genomes in only a couple of days.

MWG Biotech AG, Ebersberg, Germany, has a 10 year experience in worldwide DNA sequencing services. In August 2005, the company joined forces with Eurofins Medigenomix GmbH, Munich, a recognized provider of high quality molecular biology laboratory services.

“As the first sequencing provider in Germany using GS 20 in their own facilities, MWG Biotech AG / Eurofins | Medigenomix will benefit from the systems performance and from its versatility regarding applications, from whole genome sequencing to cancer research,” states Manfred Baier, Head of Roche Applied Science, a business area for Roche Diagnostics. “They make fast sequencing useful for researchers who do not need the full capacity of an own GS 20 system or who do not have all expertise in house, thus further broadening the application field for the system.”

“Being part of the Eurofins Group family, MWG and Medigenomix have the financial capability to invest in state-of-the-art technologies, in order to offer unmatched services to our customers,” informs Bruno Poddevin, Chief Operating Officer, MWG Biotech AG.

And Brigitte Obermaier, Managing Director, Eurofins | Medigenomix, added: “Our agreement and excellent collaboration with Roche Diagnostics will enable a streamlined and smooth integration of the new technology into the existing process workflow.”

Since 2005, the Genome Sequencer 20 System has been available on the sequencing market, setting new standards in velocity and cost-effectiveness for whole genome sequencing, transcriptome analysis, and amplicon sequencing. The system is based on 454 Sequencing™ technology, developed by the US company 454 Life Sciences and can perform sequencing runs up to 60 times faster than conventional commercially available platforms. For preparation of a whole genome, only one single preparation step, without extensive robots for colony picking and handling of the microtiter plates, is needed. One single instrument can produce dozens of megabases of sequence data within a few hours, thanks to parallel-processing, the latest imaging techniques and unique data analysis.