US-based genomics company BioNano Genomics has launched Irys System for genome mapping in the region of European Union (EU).
The Irys benchtop instrument is fully automated and uses the IrysChip to uncoil and confine long DNA molecules in Nanochannel Arrays, where molecules are then uniformly distributed in a parallel display for high-resolution, single-molecule imaging.
Irys does not use DNA fragmentation or amplification, which is commonly employed with next-generation sequencing.
First demonstration of a de novo map of the human genome using the Irys System was presented at the European Human Genetics Conference 2013.
BioNano Genomics president and CEO Erik Holmlin said that with the Irys System's nanochannel array technology, the company is delivering the long-range genomic information for researchers and clinicians to accurately detect genomic structural variation and finish genome assemblies.
"Irys has significant applications throughout human genomics and epigenomics and will be especially useful in biomedical disease research and to ultimately empower diagnostics," Holmlin added.
"This achievement paves the way for the launch of human genome capabilities, which will include a new high-throughput IrysChip, to be announced in the second half of this year."
