Addressing the issue of data overload from next-generation sequencers, Life Technologies Corporation launched its LifeScope 2.0 Genomic Analysis Software, a significantly enhanced bioinformatics system for analyzing data from genomic sequencing instruments to study human disease such as cancer.
A single next generation sequencing instrument can generate nearly 200 gigabytes of genomic data per week (equivalent to about 50 full-length DVDs), requiring substantial computational horsepower to both process and analyze the data and find the patterns indicated by rare diseases. LifeScope offers a highly accurate software solution for genomic data analysis and management, combined with flexible computing options for life scientists and bioinformaticists performing research studies or disease-focused investigations.
"The value of genomic data is only revealed by our ability to make sense of it," said Mark Stevenson, president and chief operating officer of Life Technologies. "LifeScope offers researchers a simple-to-use software system to speed their research for SNP detection, small RNA analysis and other genomic-related analyses with flexibility in hardware options that best fits their research needs, bringing the best software package to the most accurate sequencers available."
Featuring secure project management, push button work flows and an intuitive user interface for straightforward genomic data analysis, LifeScope software speeds genomic analysis though optimized mapping and other analysis algorithms to reduce time to results, with enhanced graphical outputs to simplify data interpretation that is accessible by anyone in the lab.
Christian Gilissen, at the Department of Human Genetics at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands, has been using LifeScope with the center's sequencing instruments for researching patients with hereditary diseases.
"We have a very specific focus on identifying Mendelian disease genes by exome resequencing," said Gilissen. "We have used LifeScope to fully automate the analysis of exome data, allowing our analysis to keep up with sequencing, and obtain consistent reliable results."
LifeScope 2.0 has been developed for seamless integration with Life Technologies' 5500 Series Genetic Analyzers, delivering performance-tuned algorithms for highly accurate analysis of sequence data and setting the foundation for subsequent releases with broader applicability and interfaces, including the Ion Personal Genome Machine.
LifeScope software is offered by Life Technologies as standalone product or available with the LifeScope Workstation, LifeScope Cluster or LifeScope Cloud computational infrastructures, provided in partnership with Penguin Computing.
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