Ultra-high throughput sequencing platform

Recent technological breakthroughs making possible low cost ultra-high throughput gene sequencing (UTS) open up a new era within biology. It is now possible to sequence a bacterial genome in less than a week, a human chromosome in 3-4 weeks or generate m illions of metagenomic sequences in days. While the traditional Sanger-based technology - carried out by specialized and industrialized labs outside Norway - will still for some time be best suited for de novo sequencing of large genomes, the new technolo gy is superior (both in speed and cost) for sequencing more or less known regions and bacterial genomes. Such technology would also provide an entirely new situation for all research groups trying to understand the genetic basis for phenotypic variation. We have therefore successfully applied for such equipment through the "Advanced technical equipment program" of The Norwegian Research Council. Establishment of a Norwegian ultra-high throughput sequencing platform (UTSP) open for all interested groups - is now a reality. We expect that a UTSP will facilitate internationally leading research carried out at all universities and major research institutes in Norway In this FUGE channel 2 application we apply for the infrastructure components - i.e. perso nell and establishment and running costs - for a UTSP. The broad relevance of the use of this technology is illustrated by the fact that research groups/institutions within genomics, evolutionary biology, production biology, biomedicine and food science from the Univ. of Oslo (Faculties of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and Medicine), UMB, NVH (triple-alliance), Univ. of Bergen, Univ. of Tromsø, NTNU, Matforsk and Akvaforsk stand behind this proposal. To ensure as wide use as possible, the UTSP will be run as a service open for the whole Norwegian biological research community as such.