Pacific Biosciences introduces new third-generation sequencing instrument at AGBT [Genetic Future]

Stephen Turner from Pacific Biosciences gave a dramatic presentation this afternoon launching PacBio’s new third-generation sequencing instrument. The room was packed for the seminar, with a palpable buzz, and Turner’s presentation was preceded by a theatrical introduction from PacBio CEO Hugh Martin. 

The crescendo of Turner’s presentation was the unveiling of a video showing the new (and enormous) PacBio instrument, which has been tucked away in a room here at AGBT and revealed to a trickle of VIPs (including Bio-IT World’s Kevin Davies) – if that’s the kind of thing you’re into, PacBio has just released a high-resolution photo of the machine online (see thumbnail left).

The presentation was overall impressive, but light on numbers – and in question time Turner was almost comically evasive on the issue of error rates (more on this below). No doubt Luke Jostins will have some more technical details online soon, but here are my initial thoughts: