Nebula Genomics, Partnering with BGI, Sets Industry Standard by Offering 30x Whole-Genome Sequencing for $299

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Today, most direct-to-consumer genetic tests produce limited information due to the use of outdated technology. In contrast, whole-genome sequencing at 30x coverage accurately reads out over 6 billion letters in the human genome. This generates a thousand-fold more information, enabling more comprehensive reporting on traits and ancestry. However, until now, the cost of whole-genome sequencing made it inaccessible to most people. To bring the cost down, Nebula Genomics has partnered with global genomics leader BGI Group, leveraging its MGI DNBSEQ T-Series high throughput sequencing technology and its global network of sequencing centers. Nebula Genomics is now excited to offer 30x whole-genome sequencing for $299 – a more than a two-fold price reduction.

“For the past 30 years, we’ve been working towards making personal whole genome sequencing affordable and accurate. Today, we have a big step towards this goal, reducing the cost of 30x Whole-Genome Sequencing to less than $300 and making it available to people around the globe,” said George Church, professor at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Nebula Genomics.

In addition to offering the most affordable whole-genome sequencing, Nebula Genomics seeks to address the mounting concerns over genetic data privacy that have slowed down the growth of the direct-to-consumer genetic testing market. To this end, Nebula Genomics is building a secure data management platform that combines blockchain-enabled transparency with privacy-preserving computing. This technology enables Nebula Genomics users to benefit from affordable personal genome sequencing without risking their privacy.

Individuals who purchase 30x whole-genome sequencing from Nebula Genomics will retain full control of their genomic data, receive weekly updated reports based on the latest scientific discoveries, get an in-depth ancestry analysis, and become empowered to explore their data using browser-based genome discovery tools.

About Nebula Genomics

Nebula Genomics’ mission is to usher in the era of personal genomics by providing access to affordable whole-genome sequencing and creating technology to protect genomic data privacy. By enabling affordable personal genome sequencing and secure genomic data sharing, Nebula Genomics will create large genomic datasets that will help advance our understanding of human genetics, accelerate drug discovery and streamline clinical trials. The company was founded in 2018 by genomics pioneer George Church and has offices in San Francisco, CA, and Boston, MA. Nebula Genomics is backed by multiple investors including Khosla Ventures, Fenbushi Capital, Mayfield, F-Prime Capital Partners, GreatPoint Ventures, Hemi Ventures, and Mirae Asset. For more information, follow @NebulaGenomics on Twitter and Facebook or visit nebula.org.

About BGI Group

BGI is the world’s leading genomics solutions group, with the mission to empower the world to benefit from genomics. Founded in 1999, BGI has continually focused on transformative genomics research and applications. From a small group of scientists participating in the Human Genome Project to becoming consistently ranked among the top scientific institutions globally, BGI Group continues to pioneer its omics-driven approach to solving the world’s biggest challenges in human health & wellness and in life sciences. Beyond its research leadership, BGI Group also develops and manufactures breakthrough enabling technologies for omics – both tools and infrastructure – through its MGI subsidiary. BGI’s services and solutions are available in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. With a fully integrated omics platform from science to tools to solutions, BGI partners with governments and institutions in unwavering pursuit of the common goal: Omics for All. For more information visit https://en.genomics.cn.

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