Genome Sequencing Costs

Chapter 22 discusses the dramatic reduction in genome sequencing costs since the first human genome was sequenced in 2001 for about $95 million. By 2023, the cost dropped to approximately $410, driven by technological innovations such as next-generation sequencing and improved platforms like Illumina’s sequencing-by-synthesis method. This process involves fragmenting DNA, labeling nucleotides with fluorescent tags, and detecting emitted light during strand synthesis to reconstruct the sequence. The steepest decline occurred between 2007 and 2009 during the transition from Sanger sequencing to next-generation methods, and another sharp drop happened around 2014–2015 due to new efficient platforms and increased competition. While Moore’s law contributed to advancements in sequencing machines, genome sequencing costs fell much faster than transistor costs for most of the period. Since 2020, the rate of decline has aligned more closely with Moore’s law, suggesting that future improvements may increasingly depend on electronic advancements.