Hi all,
I represent a sequencing cor facility (Oslo, Norway) of moderate size with:
- one Illumina HiSeq
- one MiSeq
- two Roche/454 GS FLX, one upgraded to GS FLX+
- one Ion Torrent PGM
- one PacBio RS
We have been additionally granted an amount which allows us to buy an Ion Proton, but are really uncertain if this is a smart move for us at this point:
- the HiSeq is running 24/7, we may be getting a second one
- the MiSeq is a problematic machine to get to work stably, but will probably generate some user interest
- the Ion PGM is collecting dust
- the 454's are mainly used for amplicon sequencing, the FLX+ finally seems to work and may generate some interset
- the PacBio will take some convincing potential users, but we have some 'local' research projects where we use it for the extra long reads, which turn out to be very helpful (de novo genome assembly of complex genomes)
So, how would the Ion Proton fit in:
- easy labwise, the crew is really fed up with emPCR
- once the 400 bp reads are there, useful for amplicon sequencing
- fast turn around time for intermediate sized projects
- perhaps it could be used to replace the 454 long insert mate pairs (longer than the 10kb possible on the Illumina); so far, there only is a demonstrated protocol, though.
Why would it be a bad idea to buy one:
- maybe it is a sign on the wall that the PGM is collecting dust
- you can get the same, if not cheaper and with better quality, done on the MiSeq/HiSeq2500_rapid_run_mode
- so, a big risk we will not generate a user base for it
We are really uncertain here. Any opinions? Would you buy a Proton today if you had the funds?
I represent a sequencing cor facility (Oslo, Norway) of moderate size with:
- one Illumina HiSeq
- one MiSeq
- two Roche/454 GS FLX, one upgraded to GS FLX+
- one Ion Torrent PGM
- one PacBio RS
We have been additionally granted an amount which allows us to buy an Ion Proton, but are really uncertain if this is a smart move for us at this point:
- the HiSeq is running 24/7, we may be getting a second one
- the MiSeq is a problematic machine to get to work stably, but will probably generate some user interest
- the Ion PGM is collecting dust
- the 454's are mainly used for amplicon sequencing, the FLX+ finally seems to work and may generate some interset
- the PacBio will take some convincing potential users, but we have some 'local' research projects where we use it for the extra long reads, which turn out to be very helpful (de novo genome assembly of complex genomes)
So, how would the Ion Proton fit in:
- easy labwise, the crew is really fed up with emPCR
- once the 400 bp reads are there, useful for amplicon sequencing
- fast turn around time for intermediate sized projects
- perhaps it could be used to replace the 454 long insert mate pairs (longer than the 10kb possible on the Illumina); so far, there only is a demonstrated protocol, though.
Why would it be a bad idea to buy one:
- maybe it is a sign on the wall that the PGM is collecting dust
- you can get the same, if not cheaper and with better quality, done on the MiSeq/HiSeq2500_rapid_run_mode
- so, a big risk we will not generate a user base for it
We are really uncertain here. Any opinions? Would you buy a Proton today if you had the funds?
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