Being able to sequence DNA on the fly used to be a thing of sci-fi films, but a working device has finally brought the technology into the real world.
The device is called MinION, and it's essentially a fully portable handheld DNA sequencer that is able to scan and analyze patient's DNA and detect if there is an infection present, as well as help estimate the severity of a disease before its outbreak becomes too much to handle.
The device comes years after it was first imagined in Star Trek, where doctors on the show and in the films could use a Tricorder to collect information about the body. It was sometimes able to diagnose diseases, with the name of the device essentially highlighting that it had three functions: sensing, computing, and recording patient data.
In the real life, the MinION is able to scan DNA samples of patients basically anywhere. Doctors can use it to scan patients' breath, helping identify any bacteria present that might be causing illnesses. Not only that, but the device could also be used for things like food processing checks, and could play a role in protecting endangered species of animals. The device from Oxford Nanopore Technologies is 10 centimeters long, about 3.9 inches, and weighs 90 grams, about 3.2 ounces, and plugs into a PC or laptop through a USB port.
The researchers behind the device are basically fighting for what they call the "democratization of sequencing." While DNA makes up all life on Earth, analyzing it is inaccessible to the average person who doesn't have a full lab at their disposal. Using MinION, anyone can gather the information needed to process DNA. After a sample is loaded, the proprietary nanopore technology passes an ionic current through nano-scale holes in the device, measuring changes in the current to identify the biological components of molecules passing through the system.
Of course, there is some debate as to whether or not everyone should have access to genetic information. For example, DNA could be used as a way to assess people's ability to perform certain tasks, which could lead to issues with discrimination.
While the goal is to be able to make genetic sequencing accessible, the MinION does have a pretty hefty price tag of $1,000 for the access fee for analysis, although that is offset by the unit's portabiity. Professionals and scientists, however, could put the device to good use, and MinION will prove to be especially helpful when that $1,000 is compared with the price of other sequencing technology, which can extend far beyond that sum.
Via: Digital Trends
