{"entity":{"id":"next-gen-short-read-platforms","kind":"technology","name":"New short-read sequencing platforms","aka":[],"tldr":"New short-read sequencing platforms from Ultima Genomics, Element Biosciences, Roche and MGI compete with Illumina by cutting the cost per gigabase, with Ultima claiming a genome under 100 dollars. Cheaper reads make whole-genome tumour-normal sequencing and deep ctDNA testing affordable in principle, but clinical assays must be revalidated and Illumina's installed base still dominates.","summary":"Ultima Genomics (UG 100, sub-$100 genome claims), Element Biosciences (AVITI), Roche's sequencing-by-expansion (SBX, launched 2025-26), MGI/Complete Genomics, and Singular Genomics compete with Illumina's NovaSeq X. Lower cost per gigabase enables whole-genome tumour-normal sequencing, high-depth ctDNA, and single-cell studies at scale; clinical validation and installed base still favour Illumina.","status":"emerging","asOf":"2026-09-08","links":[{"label":"Almogy et al., Cost-efficient whole-genome sequencing using mostly natural sequencing-by-synthesis chemistry (Ultima Genomics, bioRxiv 2022)","url":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.29.493900"}],"tags":["supporting"],"related":[],"cancers":[],"sections":["diagnostics"],"technologies":["cgp","wes-wgs","liquid-biopsy"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":["illumina","ultima-genomics","element-biosciences","roche-genentech","mgi-tech"],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":["paper-almogy-biorxiv"],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"principle":"Massively parallel sequencing-by-synthesis or expansion chemistry with optical or electronic readout on flow cells or open wafers.","strengths":["Falling cost per genome","Competition drives assay innovation"],"limitations":["Clinical assay revalidation on new platforms","Ecosystem lock-in"]},"route":"/technologies/next-gen-short-read-platforms/","neighbours":{"section":[{"id":"diagnostics","kind":"section","name":"Diagnostics & Biomarkers","route":"/fronts/diagnostics/"}],"technology":[{"id":"cgp","kind":"technology","name":"Comprehensive genomic profiling","route":"/technologies/cgp/"},{"id":"liquid-biopsy","kind":"technology","name":"Liquid biopsy (ctDNA)","route":"/technologies/liquid-biopsy/"},{"id":"wes-wgs","kind":"technology","name":"Whole-exome & whole-genome sequencing","route":"/technologies/wes-wgs/"}],"company":[{"id":"element-biosciences","kind":"company","name":"Element Biosciences","route":"/companies/element-biosciences/"},{"id":"illumina","kind":"company","name":"Illumina","route":"/companies/illumina/"},{"id":"mgi-tech","kind":"company","name":"MGI Tech","route":"/companies/mgi-tech/"},{"id":"roche-genentech","kind":"company","name":"Roche / Genentech","route":"/companies/roche-genentech/"},{"id":"ultima-genomics","kind":"company","name":"Ultima Genomics","route":"/companies/ultima-genomics/"}],"paper":[{"id":"paper-almogy-biorxiv","kind":"paper","name":"Cost-efficient whole genome-sequencing using novel mostly natural sequencing-by-synthesis chemistry and open fluidics platform","route":"/key-papers/paper-almogy-biorxiv/"}],"term":[{"id":"biosecure-act","kind":"term","name":"BIOSECURE Act","route":"/terms/biosecure-act/"}]}}