Acquisition of a Pacific Biosciences DNA Sequencer for the UW–Madison Campus

We plan to acquire a next-generation “Sequel” DNA sequencer manufactured by Pacific Biosciences and designed by the company’s co-founder, Madison native and UW–Madison physics alum Steve Turner.

Turner’s innovation reads DNA sequence information by eavesdropping on the catalytic action of a single DNA molecule sitting on the bottom of a nanoscale well in a silicon wafer. The sequencer collects more and longer “reads” — unbroken strings of the nucleotides that make up DNA — at a much faster pace than sequencers already available to UW–Madison researchers, and can detect nucleotide modifications. These two functions are critical to researchers pushing the bounds of epigenetics, human genomics, biomarker discovery, metagenomics and evolutionary and developmental biology. Campus scientists are also exploring the machine’s ability to study other single-protein molecules, such as ion channels (proteins that regulate many functions in cells by passing along signals).

In addition to its unique features, the Sequel’s higher throughput and operation as a part of the UW Biotechnology Center’s next generation sequencing core facility means the lowest possible cost for campus customers, as well as state-of-the-art quality and speed of service.

Principal Investigator

• Michael Sussman
  Professor
  Biochemistry
  Director of UW Biotechnology Center
  

Co-Principal Investigators

• Mei Baker
  Co-director Newborn Screening Facility
  Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
  
• Sean Carroll
  Professor
  Genetics
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• Cameron Currie
  Professor
  Bacteriology
• John M. Denu
  Professor
  Biomolecular Chemistry
  Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
• Colin Dewey
  Associate professor
  Biostatistics and Medical Informatics
• Thomas Friedrich
  Associate professor
  Pathobiological Sciences
• Chris Hittinger
  Assistant professor
  Genetics
• Linda Graham
  Professor
  Botany
• Yoshihiro Kawaoka
  Professor
  Pathobiological Sciences
• Jason Kwan
  Assistant professor
  Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Robert Landick
  Professor
  Biochemistry
• David O’Connor
  Professor
  Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
• Shelby O’Connor
  Assistant professor
  Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
• Caitlin Pepperell
  Assistant professor
  Medicine
• Michael Sheets
  Professor
  Biomolecular Chemistry
• Rupa Sridharan
  Assistant professor
  Cell and Regenerative Biology
  Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
• Garret Suen
  Assistant professor
  Bacteriology
• Xinyu Zhao
  Professor
  Neuroscience
  Waisman Center
• Xuehua Zhong
  Assistant professor
  Genetics
  Wisconsin Institute for Discovery