In a significant leap for marine biotechnology, China's home-developed deep-sea biological gene sequencer has successfully completed its sea trial. This breakthrough marks a substantial advancement in the nation's deep-sea research capabilities.
The cutting-edge equipment, a collaborative effort between researchers from the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the CAS Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, was tested aboard China's scientific research ship Tansuo-2 in the South China Sea from June 3 to June 9.
During the expedition, the gene sequencer was deployed twice in the deep-sea in-situ laboratory, reaching depths of up to 1,380 meters. In its first deployment, the device achieved continuous gene sequencing for eight hours. Impressively, in the second deployment, it managed a nonstop 30-hour gene sequencing process, delivering high-quality DNA sample identification.
Over the past five years, the dedicated research team has made remarkable strides in sequencing methods, big data processing, underwater encapsulation, and self-correcting software. These innovations have culminated in a fully automated, unmanned, and continuous gene sequencing process, paving the way for more efficient and extensive deep-sea biological research.
This achievement not only underscores China's growing prowess in marine science and biotechnology but also opens new avenues for understanding the vast and largely unexplored deep-sea ecosystems.
Reference(s):
China's deep-sea biological gene sequencer completes sea trial
cgtn.com
