Scientists develop microchip to boost genetic testing costs

Scientists have developed a microchip which could be used to speed up and cut the costs associated with DNA analysis.

Currently genetic tests can be used to identify which medicines are best to treat bacterial infections, but results can often take up to two weeks.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow’s school of electronics have developed a machine which they say could cut the analysis time to just a few hours.

David Cumming, professor, led the research over the past 10 years and said the microchip is a “breakthrough”. The microchip is already being used by Life Technologies, a global biotechnology company, in a new machine which can take as little as two hours to sequence DNA.

Prof. Cumming said: “It eliminates quite a complex stage in the sequencing process – with genetic testing you firstly have to modify the DNA to illuminate it – but with the chip this step is not necessary.

“The process will be much more readily available as, if one of these chips can be produced, then so can a million of them.”