Direct Measurement: The Pathway to True Biology
Limitations in the detection sensitivity of traditional biological analysis tools, have often forced scientists to measure the properties of molecular aggregates and assume that these properties represent a true characterization of the constituent individual molecules. An example is high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing. Many current sequencing approaches depend on an amplification step to copy DNA and RNA before the base sequence is determined. Sequencing the copies of the sample, rather than the sample itself can mask the biology of the actual sample by introducing biases and errors.
 
Measure the biology of the cell; not the biology of the test tube
The essence of true biology is the ability to interrogate individual molecules of a sample directly, without depending on proxies. Helicos True Single Molecule Sequencing (tSMS)™ technology captures exactly that ability — to sequence and detect individual nucleic acid molecules without relying on an amplification process. With single molecule sequencing technology, the Helicos genetic analysis tools are poised to usher in a new era of high-fidelity, high-throughput genomic exploration.

True Direct DNA measurement enables high-resolution science

• Accurate — The ability to optically detect individual nucleic acid incorporation events on a single strand of DNA or RNA allows unparalleled sequence accuracy.
• Simple — Sample preparation is minimal, and does not require an amplification process. Instrument interface is intuitive and instrument operation is automated.
• Unbiased — PCR-based DNA amplification can lead to biases because certain fragments reproduce at different rates, leading to the systematic overrepresentation of some segments and an underrepresentation of others. Helicos tSMS technology allows amplification-free sample prep.
• Scalable — The density allowed by single molecule sequencing along with the flow cell design allows excellent scalability of samples and target size.
• Sensitive — Single molecule detection and minimally altered samples allows unprecedented looks at rare mutations and transcripts expressed at low levels.

Helicos Translates Single Molecule Sequencing Into Real Research Power

• Greater quantitative power to obtain true counts, rather than ratiometric data
• Application flexibility for Digital Gene Expression, Targeted Resequencing, Copy-Number Variation Assessment, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation-Sequencing and others
• Enhanced ability to discern rare mutations in heterogeneous samples and measure rare transcripts
• Demonstrated freedom from amplification and fragment-length bias as well as from sequence context effects
• Generation of more data through single molecule template density and flow cell design

Learn More: Simplicity & Scalability >
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