Nanopore gene sequencer, can detect cancer by brushing teeth

When you brush your teeth in the morning, you can check your risk of cancer or Alzheimer's. This convenient way is not far from us. Clive Brown, chief technology officer of a British company, said at a medical conference on the 24th that with the help of nanopore gene sequencing technology, it is expected that the miniaturization of the sequencers will soon be realized, thus making them "ubiquitous" and continuously monitoring our health. situation.

The nanopore gene sequencing technology uses a microchip that allows DNA in the body tissue to pass through a hole on the chip that is about 1.5 nanometers in diameter and is only one-eight thousandth of the diameter of the hair, and then allows current to pass through the hole. The current measures the flow of ions through the nanopore, which in turn generates an electrical signal that characterizes the characteristics of the sample and translates it into digital information. By comparing digital information with genetic markers of known conditions, it is possible to know if there is a risk of disease.

At this stage, genetic testing is usually done in the lab, which is expensive and takes several days. Brown's company has developed a palm-sized nanopore gene sequencer that is connected to a computer via a USB cable to detect DNA in the sample.

This small instrument has been used in Africa to detect Ebola virus. They plan to make the detector smaller, embed daily necessities, and wirelessly connect to the Internet to continuously monitor health.