SHENZHEN, China, June 6, 2024 – MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (“MGI”), a company committed to building core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life science, today announced a highly efficient whole workflow solution for agricultural large-scale Low-pass whole genome sequencing (Low-pass WGS) based on its proprietary DNBSEQTM platforms during this year’s International Plant and Animal Genome Conference Asia (PAG Asia 2024), taking place on June 5-7 in Shenzhen, China.

The new solution consists of an automated full-process product portfolio designed for large-scale molecular breeding genotyping of agricultural diploid species. The full workflow covers extraction, library preparation, sequencing, and SNP & InDel calling.

The new MGIEasy Large-scale PCR-Free FS Library Prep Set for Low-pass WGS, available in two specifications, 96RXN and 384RXN, is designed specifically for Low-pass WGS applications with a new plate-based library preparation reagent module. Compared with common PCR-free library preparation sets on the market, this kit cuts the purification step and completes library construction in three easy steps, reducing the time and consumables required.

In combination with MGI’s advanced automation platforms, the Low-pass WGS solution breaks through the limit on throughput as seen in ordinary library preparation. It utilizes the fewer number of automated tools to match ultra-high throughput, as while maintaining a high degree of automation. As a result, large-scale library preparation can be done in a short time, at low cost, and with great automation friendliness.

For sequencing, the product bundles for high throughput and medium throughput Low-pass WGS feature the ultra-high-throughput DNBSEQ-T7 sequencer and the versatile DNBSEQ-G400 benchtop sequencer respectively, empowering large-scale agricultural genomics research projects in a short time.

The initial workflow released includes a pig reference panel and a data analysis software that has been based on GLIMPSE2, allowing users to perform pig genotyping without having to build their own database. Free format conversion service is also available for users with an existing reference panel to be compatible with the analysis software.

“Since genome selection was widely used in agricultural breeding, genotyping tools went through several iterations, sequencing technology gradually shows its irreplaceable advantages,” said Duncan Yu, President of MGI. “Low-pass WGS has been applied in both animal and plant breeding, but not without implementation challenges. Our new total solution for large-scale pig breeding addresses these user pain points and promises flexible automation needs, simplified library preparation, high throughput sequencing, and efficient data processing.”

Bolstered by MGI’s powerhouse instruments, this agricultural Low-pass WGS solution has a daily throughput of 96 to 1,536 samples and annual throughput of 24,000 to 384,000 samples (based on the 1.0X depth of a pig genome and an average sample data output of 3G). It has also obtained high-accuracy SNP results from 0.5~1X Low-pass in pig ear tissue samples, demonstrating 98.4% consistency with the SNP array and 98.1% with 50X WGS. Together with MGI’s self-developed MegaBOLT bioinformatics analysis accelerator, it can analyse 192 pig 1.0X samples daily, and approximately 1,536 per day with ZBOLT Pro.

Compared to traditional genotyping by microarray, MGI’s new solution offers genome-wide data at the same cost but captures a broader range of genetic variation, enhances the discovery of new variants, and increases the statistical power of genome-wide studies, all while eliminating high design and start-up costs associated with microarrays. The dynamic features of this solution enable continuous updates and optimizations in genomic analyses.

“As a provider of core tools in life science, MGI is committed to providing agricultural scientists and breeders with high-quality, convenient, and reliable genome products, while actively driving the growth of agricultural research and industry,” added Yu. 

The Low-pass WGS product and workflow will be available for orders starting on June 30th. For further information on MGI’s latest whole workflow agricultural large-scale Low-pass WGS solution, please visit https://en.mgitech.cn/Home/Applications/index/id/16.html.

About MGI

MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (or its subsidiaries, together referred to MGI) is committed to building core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life science. Our focus lies in research & development, manufacturing, and sales of instruments, reagents, and related products in the field of life science and biotechnology. We provide real-time, multi-omics, and full spectrum of digital equipment and systems for precision medicine, agriculture, healthcare, and various other industries. Founded in 2016, MGI has grown into a leader in life science, serving customers across six continents and have established research, manufacturing, training, and after-sales service facilities globally. MGI stands out as one of the few companies capable of independently developing and mass-producing clinical-grade gene sequencers with varying throughput capacities, ranging from Gb to Tb levels. With unparalleled expertise, cutting-edge products, and a commitment to global impact, MGI continues to shape the trajectory of life sciences into the future. To learn more, please visit mgi-tech.com/, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.