Genome Sequencing Platform

The Broad's Genome Sequencing platform designs and carries out large-scale genome sequencing projects, together with groups throughout the Broad community. Genomes of interest include human, mammals, fish, insects, fungi, plants, bacteria and viruses. The platform was a leading contributor to the Human Genome Project (which reached its completion in 2003), is the flagship of the NIH-funded Mammalian Genome Project and an NIH Microbial Sequencing Center.

Jennifer Baldwin, who has expertise in both molecular biology and management, directs the Genome Sequencing Platform. Its leadership includes Director of Operations Robert Nicol and Director of Informatics Toby Bloom.

The platform's major activities include:

• High-throughput genome sequencing
  This group generates the massive quantities of genomic data, in excess 50 billion bases of DNA sequence per year, needed to assemble rough draft sequences of entire genomes. In some cases, the rough drafts are sufficient to achieve research and clinical objectives. In other cases, the rough drafts are improved through directed activities.
• Genome finishing
  This group improves the rough drafts by filling in missing information to create near-complete genome sequences. The group is currently finishing the mouse genome, which has great relevance for human clinical research.
• Sequencing informatics
  This group provides the infrastructure and tools necessary to process, store, analyze and track the millions of samples handled by the platform.
• Project management
  This team keeps the platform's many efforts organized and on track.

These four groups work together to generate genomic data sets to advance discoveries in biology and medicine.