Use of Robotics in High-Throughput DNA Sequencing

Until relatively recently, full sequencing of genes consisting of more than several exons was not considered practicable within a routine diagnostic context. As a result, many approaches to unknown mutation detection in a specific gene involved a mutation pre-screening step to limit the amount of DNA sequencing required. Protocols to pre-screen for mutations and limit the amount of DNA sequencing may not localise every base change present and/or require considerable levels of manual intervention. Advances in technology, allied with careful protocol design, now permit direct DNA sequencing to be applied to larger areas of gene sequence, allowing unequivocal mutation identification in the area of a gene being analysed. The protocol described below utilises robotic systems, allied to custom-designed PCR primers, to facilitate rapid DNA sequencing of multiple gene targets. The general approach is amenable to adaptation for use with multi-channel pipettes.