Complete Genomics Will Sequence Your Entire Genome for $5,000 Starting in 2009
Andrew Pollack at the New York Times wrote an article published today entitled “Dawn of Low-Price Mapping Could Broaden DNA Uses.” The article is about a start-up company called Complete Genomics which will begin sequencing customer’s genomes for $5,000 starting in the second quarter of 2009. From the article:
“Complete Genomics will not begin its service until the second quarter of next year. By then, the cost of competing technologies will no doubt have fallen further. Just last week, Applied Biosystems, a leading manufacturer, said it expected that its newest machine would allow a human genome to be sequenced for $10,000, although that includes only the cost of consumable materials, not labor or the machinery.”
The article next mentions Knome, which is still offering complete genomes for $350,000. I expect that price to drop dramatically within the next few months. Indeed, as the article points out:
“Complete Genomics will not offer a service to consumers. But it will provide sequencing for consumer-oriented companies like Knome. Knome is already exploring farming out its sequencing to Complete Genomics. “We anticipate we’d be able to significantly drop our price,†said Jorge C. Conde, the chief executive of Knome, which is based in Cambridge, Mass.”
Interestingly, the company says that they are still making money at $5,000, and hopes to sequence a million genomes by 2013:
“Mr. Reid [the chief executive] said Complete Genomics hoped to perform 1,000 human genome sequences next year and 20,000 in 2010, with a goal of completing a million by 2013. That assumes the company can raise the money and find partners to build 10 sequencing centers at a cost of $50 million each. It also assumes there will be enough demand.”
Will there be enough demand? What effect will this have on the cost of sequencing by other companies? What effect will this have on the field of genetic genealogy?



October 9th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Neil Gaiman Gives Away The Graveyard | The Underwire from Wired.com Spotted by Joe Beine, the amazing genealogist behind deathindexes.com and other great resources . . . Are You My Cousin? This is blowing my mind!Complete Genomics Will Sequence Your Entire Genome for $5,000 Starting in 2009 » The Genetic GenealogistPresidential candidate Obama has Irish kin in southern Ohio – Openers – cleveland.com More on Jefferson and Hemings . . . Annette Gordon-Reed on the Sally Hemings Saga | Newsweek Books Yikes! I’m an old-timer! Actually, that’s a good thing . . .
January 1st, 1970 at 12:00 am
October 6th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
[...] It’s still unclear whether the company has the capability to make good on such a promise, but its claims have certainly gained it some attention – the story was broken in the NY Times, Bio-IT World and MIT’s Technology Review today (see also coverage from The Genetic Genealogist). [...]
October 6th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
[...] tinyMCE.init({ mode : “textareas”, theme : “simple” }); Complete Genomics Will Sequence Your Entire Genome for $5,000 Starting in 2009linked to by 3 added on Mon 6th Oct 08 $5,000 genome a year from now posted to Dienekes’ [...]
October 7th, 2008 at 4:33 am
It has always been my personal opinion that businesses in general could make more money by selling at lower prices through sheer volume sales. But, you still have to make it affordable. After Ancestry cut their DNA test prices by half for members a couple months ago, I decided to go ahead and order the tests. I probably never would have done it otherwise.
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October 7th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Carol: I think that lower prices will continue to be the trend, coupled with greater variety of tests.
March 19th, 2009 at 12:13 am
I am ready, can you imagine how much we will learn when it only costs hundreds instead of thousands of dollars? It’s about time!
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May 7th, 2009 at 4:44 am
I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
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June 7th, 2009 at 1:15 am
[...] the end of this year, you can have your entire genome sequenced for just $5000.00 and results will be ready in a few days. By 2014, genome sequencing is projected to cost less [...]
August 11th, 2010 at 12:54 am
It has always been my personal opinion that businesses in general could make more money by selling at lower prices through sheer volume sales. But, you still have to make it affordable. After Ancestry cut their DNA test prices by half for members a couple months ago, I decided to go ahead and order the tests. I probably never would have done it otherwise.
August 11th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Can’t be said much better. After reading this entry it hit me that my roommate was just like this! He never stopped kept talking about this kind of stuff. I will forward this article to him. I’m pretty sure he will love it. Thanks once again for showing this.
September 7th, 2010 at 6:38 am
can you imagine how much we will learn when it only costs hundreds instead of thousands of dollars
January 17th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
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