This video introduces RO's new "Sequencing by Expansion" (SPX) technology, detailing its innovative approach to genetic sequencing. SPX synthesizes a complementary DNA analog called an "expandimer," which possesses an accordion-like backbone. This expandimer is then threaded through millions of nanopores on a flow cell, where bases are detected by deviations in electrical current, similar to existing nanopore methods. A key distinction of SPX is its precise, controlled movement through the pores due to "translocation control elements," and its classification as a short-read technology. The primary advantage of SPX is its exceptional speed, capable of producing 5 billion reads in an hour and enabling complete library prep, sequencing, and variant calling in under 6.5 hours, making it significantly faster than current high-throughput nanopore systems. Accuracy is reported between 99-99.8% for SNP and indel calling, comparable to Illumina. While costs are not yet public, they are anticipated to be competitive with high-throughput platforms. SPX is slated for a 2026 launch, with hopes that it will further drive down sequencing costs despite its current limitation to non-native DNA.
Exploring RO's New SPX Sequencing Technology: Speed, Accuracy, and the Future of Genomics
0:00:03 Introduction to SPX: RO unveils its new "Sequencing by Expansion" (SPX) technology, touted as a significant advancement in sequencing.
0:00:10 How SPX Works: SPX synthesizes a complementary DNA analog, termed an "expandimer," which has a unique accordion-like backbone. These expandimers are then threaded through pores, and the sequence is read by detecting current deviations, akin to nanopore sequencing.
0:00:31 Key Differences from Nanopore: SPX features "translocation control elements" for very controlled, paused movement between each base, unlike traditional nanopore. Crucially, SPX is a short-read technology (low hundreds of base pairs), distinguishing it from nanopore's long-read capability.
0:00:58 Unmatched Speed: SPX's main advantage is its "blazingly fast" speed, achieving 5 billion reads in 1 hour or 15 billion in 4 hours. A time trial demonstrated library preparation, sequencing, and variant calling completed in under 6.5 hours.
0:01:14 High Throughput: This speed is attributed to its flow cell, which boasts 8 million pores—vastly exceeding the tens of thousands found in the highest-throughput nanopore systems. SPX is estimated to be about 10 times faster than the fastest nanopore methods in data production per second.
0:01:28 High Accuracy: The technology reports SNP and indel calling accuracy between 99% and 99.8%, achieving Q39 scores. Its accuracy is considered roughly on par with Illumina, based on provided data.
0:01:51 Anticipated Cost: While official pricing from RO is not yet available, the cost per gigabyte is expected to be competitive with Illumina's NovaSeq, possibly with a premium for its speed.
0:02:11 Future Outlook: The video expresses optimism for SPX's entry into the sequencing market, anticipating it will exert further pressure on sequencing costs. The technology is scheduled for launch in 2026.
0:02:24 Current Limitation: A "shame" noted by the speaker is the current inability to directly sequence native DNA or RNA using the 8-million-pore device, though an academic solution for this may emerge.