Applied Biosciences at Macquarie University will expand their genomic research capabilities through a new consortium of eight public science research institutions sharing a whole genome sequencer.
Applied Biosciences at Macquarie University joins a consortium of eight public science research institutions investing in a new genomic science capability. The 'Revio Sequencer' allows researchers to look at whole genomes - and has a huge range of possible applications, from identifying the genetic code behind how a disease infects its host, or how a pest species is able to adapt to the changing climate.
High quality genetic data is key to projects across the biosecurity, agricultural, medical and environmental sciences. This new shared facility can read multiple samples quickly and provide high-definition long-read sequencing data which is highly accurate (99.9 per cent).
"While some applications will be to do with human genomes, most of the applications will be with other animals, plants and microbes in the context of biosecurity, environmental science, agriculture, and other industries," says Professor Phil Taylor, founding head of Applied Biosciences.
"In short, it can rapidly and effectively 'interrogate' genomes of any organism to understand the genetic 'instructions' for how organisms are constructed and function. This is important, for example, to understand heritable diseases, or the evolution of particular characteristics such as climate resilience, invasive potential, or insecticide resistance."
Professor Taylor says that researchers in Applied BioSciences, School of Natural Sciences, and FMHHS will make use of the facility, which will be located at ANU, just across the road from the CSIRO Black Mountain facilities.
"This will save a lot of money and time, and provide very high quality analyses," he says.