China’s home-developed deep-sea biological gene sequencer has successfully completed its sea trial, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s deep-sea research capabilities.
The equipment was jointly developed by 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.
During an expedition mission aboard China’s scientific research ship Tansuo-2 in the South China Sea from June 3 to June 9, the gene sequencer underwent rigorous testing, according to the CAS publicity office.
Deployed twice during the sea expedition, the sequencer reached a maximum depth of 1,380 meters. In its first deployment, it accomplished continuous sequencing for eight hours. In the second deployment, it completed the entire gene sequencing process, working nonstop for 30 hours with high-quality identification of DNA samples.
Over the past five years, the research team has made significant breakthroughs in areas such as sequencing methods, big data processing, underwater encapsulation, and self-correcting software. These advancements have enabled the team to achieve a fully automated, unmanned, and continuous gene sequencing process.
The successful sea trial represents a major boon for China’s deep-sea research, opening new possibilities for underwater biological studies and expanding the nation’s scientific reach into the depths of the ocean.
Reference(s):
China's deep-sea biological gene sequencer completes sea trial
cgtn.com
