DNA Sequencing by Capillary Array

On May 9, 1998, Applied Biosystems announced that they would introduce a new instrument based on “breakthrough DNA analysis technology”(). Over 700 orders for the new sequencer were received in the first five months of production, which make this instrument one of the most successful new products in the history of analytical instrumentation. This new instrument is based on capillary array electrophoresis (CAE) with a sheath-flow cuvet detector. This detection technology provides nearly 100% duty cycle, where every capillary is monitored simultaneously without the need for a scanning detector system. By use of this instrument, the Drosophila melanogaster sequence will be completed in less than 5 mo (), and the sequence of the human genome will be substantially complete by the time that this book is in print.