Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) aims to disrupt the paradigm of biological analysis by enabling the analysis of any living thing, by any person, in any environment. Flexibility of nanopore technology has enabled researchers to use DNA and RNA sequencing in many different fields including basic genome research, human genetics, environmental research, plant research, transcriptome analysis, animal research or in clinical research.
Nanopore sequencing delivers ultra-long reads of DNA or RNA with rapid, straightforward library preparations. Coupled with flexible workflows with multiplexing, automation and real-time data analysis, ONT provides scalable sequencing solutions, priced for any funding scenario. The MinION is a portable, low cost device that has been designed to bring easy biological analyses to anyone, whether in scientific research, education or a range of real world applications. The GridION X5 is a desktop device that includes compute module and the ability to run up to five MinION Flow Cells. Flongle is an adapter for MinION or GridION that enables the quickest, most accessible and cost-efficient sequencing system for smaller tests and experiments. The high-throughput, high-sample number PromethION is currently being released in the PromethION Early Access Programme. SmidgION, through which DNA sequencing can be done on a smart phone, is in development.
All these devices are based on nanopore sequencing technology in which a biological nanopore is being used as the sensor to read a characteristic ‘current signal’ when a DNA or RNA strand is passing through the nanopore under an applied potential. Our current preferred nanopore is an engineered version of the CsgG pore from E. coli. The pore has been heavily engineered to improve signal properties, accuracy and the throughput of the system. In collaboration with many academic research partners, ONT is also developing a broad range of novel nanopores, both biological and solid state, for various applications.