Fundamental significance of DNA mass-sequencing factory for biological sciences in future

We are now entering an era of the mass-analysis of genetic information, which will signal the beginning of the study of living organisms on the basis of their most detailed plan: the DNA base-sequence. The researcher's essential requirement in reading and deciphering the DNA base-sequence is the precision, speed, reliability, and low cost of such operation. I have long stressed that these requirements can only be satisfied by establishing a centralized organization, a DNA sequencing factory, where a large-scale and international operation of the sequencing can be carried out with the assistance of high technologies and under an administration which equitably represents the research interests of researchers worldwide. In this context, the basic concept and aims of the Japanese project which was begun in 1981 are described, detailing the advantages of such a factory with a mega-base daily output. Scientists and engineers are devising a high speed and automated DNA sequencing system by coordinating available DNA-processing technologies, particularly in the field of computer/robotic engineering. Typical of the achievements of this enterprise is the recent progress made by RIKEN in the development of a DNA mass-sequencing line which aims the production of raw base-sequence data of 0.1 mega-base per day (machine throughput). Finally, the elemental units in the current DNA sequencing procedures and the means of DNA processing are displayed on a family tree network to illustrate their functional interrelation in the current scheme of DNA analysis. It is hoped that this will provide a clue to finding new dimensions in DNA processing.