Complete Genomics facts for kids

Complete Genomics is a company that works with DNA. They have created special tools to read and understand the complete set of instructions found in human DNA, called the genome. This helps scientists learn more about people's genes. Complete Genomics is now part of another company called MGI.

Company History

Complete Genomics started in June 2005. It was founded by Clifford Reid, Radoje (Rade) Drmanac, and John Curson. Clifford Reid was the main leader of the company for many years.

Early Discoveries

In February 2009, Complete Genomics announced a big step. They had successfully read the entire genome of a human for the first time. They shared this important information with a public science database.

Later in 2009, Complete Genomics shared more exciting news. They published the DNA information for three human genomes in a famous science magazine called Science.

Helping Research

The information gathered by Complete Genomics has helped many different areas of science. For example, it has supported studies on:

• Checking embryos for health.
• Finding out how people are related through their genes.
• Understanding brain conditions (neurology).
• Studying how people age.
• Learning about rare diseases that affect muscles and the heart.
• Researching eating disorders and conditions like Prader-Willi syndrome and autism.
• Studying eye problems (ophthalmology).
• Working on cancer research (oncology).

In 2014, Complete Genomics worked with universities in the Netherlands and China. Together, they used whole genome sequencing to find major causes of intellectual disability.

New Technologies

In 2016, Complete Genomics helped a project led by George M. Church. They added over 184 human genomes to his Personal Genome Project. This project aims to understand human genetics better.

In 2019, the company introduced a new technology. It's called single-tube long fragment read (stLFR) technology. This new method helps scientists build long DNA molecules from shorter pieces. It makes it easier and cheaper to study DNA in detail. This technology is useful for understanding how genes are passed down and finding changes in DNA.

Becoming Part of MGI

In March 2013, a large genomics company from China, BGI Group, bought Complete Genomics. After this, Complete Genomics moved its main office to San Jose. In June 2018, Complete Genomics became part of MGI. MGI was a part of BGI Group, but it became its own separate company in 2022.

See also

In Spanish: Complete Genomics para niños