Everything You Need for Testing DNA, In 1 Hour, in Less Than Half the Size of a Business Card
#Future
Tue, Apr 9th, 2013 12:00 by capnasty NEWS
A DNA testing chip, developed by Panasonic and Belgium-based research institution IMEC, can deliver results in one hour, paving the way for "personalized, tailor-made therapy."
First of all, the blood and chemical are mixed. DNA is then extracted from the mixed solution. The regions containing SNPs are then cut out and amplified. DNA amplification uses technology called PCR, which cuts out the desired sections by varying the temperature. With the conventional method, this process took two hours.
The amplified DNA is then sent through a micropump to a DNA filter. Here, the DNA is separated for each section length. Then, a newly developed electrochemical sensor identifies SNPs while the DNA is dissolved in the chemical."Through careful attention to thermal separation design, we've achieved high-speed PCR, where 30 temperature cycles are completed in nine minutes. We think this is one of the fastest PCR systems in the world."