Reading the sequence of a human genome, at about 30-fold coverage, for a cost low enough that sequencing is a routine step in research, screening and diagnosis.
Scope
In: instruments, chemistry and workflows that read DNA, and the cost per human genome. Out: the interpretation of the sequence, and DNA writing (biotech/low-cost-dna-synthesis).
Readiness
not assessed
Serves
Good health and well-being, Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Cost per human genome headline1.0 orders of magnitude to go
Cost to sequence one human genome at about 30-fold coverage, as defined by the source. Lower is better.
Current (2022-01-01)90 USD
Target10 USD
Limit–
Conditions. One human genome at about 30-fold coverage; platform developer's figure per gigabase scaled to a genome.
Why this target. Atlas working target, not set by an agency: one order of magnitude below the current value, where the sequencing cost of a genome would be comparable to a routine laboratory assay. NHGRI publishes the cost history but sets no target.
Note. Derived: 1 USD per Gb times 30 times 3 Gb. Preprint by the platform developer; the cost basis of the per-gigabase figure is not defined in the abstract. as_of is the preprint year.
The per-gigabase price quoted by a platform developer leaves out what NHGRI counts as production cost: labor, instruments amortized over three years, informatics and data submission. The atlas has no independent figure for the full cost of a 30-fold human genome today, so the current value is a derived, developer-reported number.