Twist Bioscience Launches Pangenome Spike-in Exome Panel to Enable Advancement of Research for Diverse Populations
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Insights
The introduction of the Human Pangenome Spike-in for the Twist Exome 2.0 panel by Twist Bioscience represents a significant advancement in the field of genomics. This tool addresses a critical gap in genetic research by incorporating a wider array of genetic variations that are representative of diverse human populations. The traditional reference genomes have been limited in their representation, often based on a narrow genetic pool, which could lead to biases in research and diagnostic outcomes.
From a biotechnology perspective, the ability to detect a more complete view of genetic variation is paramount for the development of personalized medicine. The inclusion of a broader genetic dataset can potentially lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and the creation of more inclusive diagnostic tools. This is particularly important for populations that have been historically underrepresented in genetic studies. The move by Twist Bioscience could be seen as an effort to democratize genomic research and make it more equitable.
The financial implications for Twist Bioscience and its stakeholders could be substantial. The biotech and pharmaceutical industries are increasingly relying on accurate genomic data to drive research and development. As such, products that enhance the quality and inclusivity of this data could see significant demand. However, it's important to consider the costs associated with the development of such advanced tools and the pricing strategy adopted by Twist Bioscience to ensure accessibility and widespread adoption.
The Human Pangenome Reference Consortium's (HPRC) initiative to sequence and assemble complete genomes from diverse populations is a critical step towards a more inclusive understanding of human genetic diversity. The collaboration with Twist Bioscience indicates a trend towards industry-academia partnerships that leverage both cutting-edge technology and comprehensive research findings. For the scientific community, the availability of the Human Pangenome Spike-in Panel targets a significant portion of novel pangenome variants that affect coding sequences in the exome, which is a leap forward in the pursuit of precision medicine.
The panel's ability to target 2.5 Mb of pangenome variants could revolutionize the way researchers approach whole exome sequencing (WES). The potential to uncover associations between genetic variations and diseases, particularly for underrepresented groups, is greatly enhanced. This could pave the way for more accurate and diverse genetic databases, ultimately improving the predictive power of genetic tests.
It is also worth noting the ethical implications of such technology. The equitable representation in genetic databases is not just a scientific necessity but also a moral imperative. Ensuring that the benefits of genomics research are distributed fairly across all populations will be a continuing challenge and tools like the one offered by Twist Bioscience are a step in the right direction.
“No one single human genome can serve as a reference representing everyone. In order to advance science for all people, researchers need to have tools that enable them to conduct research relevant to people from diverse backgrounds,” said Emily M. Leproust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. “By leveraging the reference sequences assembled by the Human Pangenome Reference Consortium, we can offer our customers a tool that can enable them to better understand the true breadth of human genetic variation as they develop new assays.”
The Human Pangenome Reference Consortium (HPRC) is a project funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) that has the objective to sequence and assemble complete telomere-to-telomere genomes from individuals from diverse populations into a new type of reference in order to better represent the genomic landscape of diverse human populations. The updated HPRC reference standard includes samples from
“When companies such as Twist utilize our reference standard to create research tools, it facilitates scientists’ study of genetic variation. This may enable the creation of effective diagnostic tests and treatments for ancestrally diverse genomic data,” said Bob Fulton and Karen Miga, Co-Chairs of the Production and Technology Working Group of the Human Pangenome Reference Project.
The Twist Human Pangenome Spike-in Panel targets 2.5 Mb of pangenome variants and can be spiked into the Twist Exome 2.0 to target more than
If interested in the Human Pangenome Spike-in Panel for the Twist Exome 2.0 panel, please complete the contact form here: https://www.twistbioscience.com/contact
About Twist Bioscience Corporation
Twist Bioscience is a leading and rapidly growing synthetic biology and genomics company that has developed a disruptive DNA synthesis platform to industrialize the engineering of biology. The core of the platform is a proprietary technology that pioneers a new method of manufacturing synthetic DNA by “writing” DNA on a silicon chip. Twist is leveraging its unique technology to manufacture a broad range of synthetic DNA-based products, including synthetic genes, tools for next-generation sequencing (NGS) preparation, and antibody libraries for drug discovery and development. Twist is also pursuing longer-term opportunities in digital data storage in DNA and biologics drug discovery. Twist makes products for use across many industries including healthcare, industrial chemicals, agriculture and academic research.
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Twist Bioscience Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained herein are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the ability of the Human Pangenome Spike-in Panel for the Twist Exome 2.0 panel to enable researchers to detect a more complete view of genetic variation during WES. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that may cause Twist Bioscience’s actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the ability to achieve the expected benefits of Twist Bioscience’s restructuring activities and reduced investments in DNA data storage; the ability to attract new customers and retain and grow sales from existing customers; the ability of Twist Bioscience to achieve sufficient revenue to achieve or maintain positive cash flow from operations or profitability in any given period; risks and uncertainties of rapidly changing technologies and extensive competition in synthetic biology that could make the products Twist Bioscience is developing obsolete or non-competitive; uncertainties of the retention of significant customers; the ability of Twist Bioscience to successfully integrate acquired companies and to achieve expected benefits from acquisitions; supply chain and other disruptions; risks of third party claims alleging infringement of patents and proprietary rights or seeking to invalidate Twist Bioscience’s patents or proprietary rights; and the risk that Twist Bioscience’s proprietary rights may be insufficient to protect its technologies. For a description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Twist Bioscience’s business in general, see Twist Bioscience’s risk factors set forth in Twist Bioscience’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 2, 2024 and subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Twist Bioscience specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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FAQ
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How much of the novel pangenome variants affecting coding sequences in the exome can the Twist Human Pangenome Spike-in Panel target?
