It may look like a large photocopier, but it’s not. According to its specifications, Illumina’s HiSeq X machine can produce the complete sequence of 16 human genomes in every 3-day run. The company also sells the machine in sets of ten under the name HiSeq X Ten, in which case the theoretical throughput rises to 18,000 whole-genome mappings per year. A HiSeq X Ten costs 10 million dollars, and by September 2016, 35 sets had been sold worldwide; these should already be running 24/7 if they are ever to “pay for themselves.”
Illumina’s range of machines also includes smaller analysis devices, though with lower output capacity. How many years it will take before we see a DNA sequencer listed in the specifications of smartphones or wearables remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Illumina—having acquired the company Helix in 2015—has already entered the world of mobile applications, aiming to drive the growth of “consumer genomics” for millions of app users, with the ultimate goal of getting their DNA into its machines.