The Chinese Academy of Sciences and Inspur Group have started a joint project to develop the third-generation genome sequencing instrument, which might slash the cost of genome sequencing by 99 percent.

The instrument is expected to sequence a person's genomes in an hour at a cost of about US$1,000, compared with six weeks and US$60,000-100,000 by the current second-generation instrument, said Yu Jun, deputy head of the Beijing Institute of Genomics with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The academy and the Inspur Group, a leading supplier of computing platforms and IT application solutions in China, announced the project here on Friday, according to a report by Beijing Daily newspaper on Saturday.

"The home-made third-generation genome sequencing instrument is not only conducive to life science research, but also concerns the genetic safety of China," Yu said.

The sequencing instrument is vital for gene science research and the made-in-China third-generation instrument will help the country get a leading edge in the field, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2009)