The idea behind the Oxford Nanopore DNA sequencing systems – both the USB-key MinION and the workhorse GridION — seem pretty simple: Guide a strand of DNA through a tiny hole and use the electrical signature of the different bases to identify them.
Both systems run the same way, but when you put a large number of the machines together they can split the work and run faster. To sequence a human genome in 15 minutes you would need about 20 GridION boxes that run 8,000 pores simultaneously.
The DNA to be tested first needs to be collected. The sample could be from humans, bacteria or some other organism.
With minimal preparation, the DNA sample is loaded into a cartridge. The cartridge contains a set number of individual wells containing one nanopore each.
The cartridge is put in the machine, which is completely automated.
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