JPCM topical review round-up part 5: Are nanopores the key to cheaper genome sequencing?

By Jade Holt on July 27, 2015

DNA sequencing using graphene nanopores

Nanopores have many exciting applications namely as an ultra-fast, cheap genome sequencer, which could open the door for personalized medicine. Nanopores also allow real-time analysis and the DNA strand to be re-used as the translocation through the pore is non-destructive. The technique is also scalable and flexible and so perfect to realise cheaper DNA sequencing on a large industrial scale.

In her review, Maria Fyta examines the milestones this field has seen since its inception. Several different types of nanopores, from biological to solid state, are analysed with their advantages and disadvantages highlighted.

Fyta talks with great enthusiasm about the future of nanopores in single molecule research. With the proposal of plasmonic nanopores made this year, which could provide additional optical information it seems like, in Fyta’s words, “nanopores have all of the necessary ingredients to realize a flexible, low cost, real-time and parallelizable sequencing device.”

To read the review in full, click here.

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