DNA Sequencing Core Facility

 

The DNA Sequencing Core Facility provides Sanger DNA sequencing, fragment analysis, and now Whole Plasmid Sequencing to investigators at CMMT, BCCHR, UBC, and to external academic and industry researchers.

Our facility is equipped with the ABI 3500xl Genetic Analyzer for Sanger sequencing and fragment analysis, and the Oxford Nanopore MinION platform for long-read plasmid sequencing.

Since 2002, we have completed more than 350,000 analyses for over 215 research groups at CMMT, BCCHR, UBC, SFU, UVic, and numerous hospital, industry, and government labs.

WHOLE PLASMID SEQUENCING

pBluescript Map

We are pleased to provide Whole Plasmid Sequencing. This service provides complete plasmid validation using Oxford Nanopore’s MinION platform and the epi2me clone validation workflow.

Key features:

  • De novo plasmid assembly with full-length coverage

  • Automated annotation of plasmid features

  • Quality metrics including per-base accuracy and assembly statistics

  • Deliverables: annotated plasmid map, FASTA and FASTQ sequence files, and a detailed validation report

Applications:

  • Confirming plasmid integrity

  • Verifying cloning experiments and insert orientation

  • Detecting mutations, rearrangements, or unexpected sequence changes

Submit purified plasmids following our protocol notes. Please download our updated Sample Submission Form. Results are typically available within a few business days.

SANGER DNA SEQUENCING

Sequencing is performed on an ABI 3500xl 24-capillary automated genetic analyzer.  Please see the protocol notes for sample submission details.

  • Read length: 700–900 bp per reaction

  • Turnaround: 1–3 business days

  • Services:

    • Full Service sequencing of DNA templates (discounted rates for samples pre-mixed with primers)

    • Ready-to-Run service if you prefer to prepare your own sequencing reactions

We sequence single- or double-stranded DNA from plasmids, PCR products, BAC, PAC, and cosmid templates using ABI BigDye v3.1 Terminator chemistry.

Results are provided as analyzed ABI files (.ab1), with other formats available upon request.

GENOTYPING SERVICES

DNA fragment analysis is performed on the ABI 3500xl Analyzer.

  • Size range: 50–1000 bp

  • Includes internal size standards

  • Please contact us for project-specific details and pricing.

FEES

Whole Plasmid Sequencing – Academic Pricing.  Please inquire for industry pricing.

Samples submitted < 8 8 to 23 >24
Plasmids (<24kb) $19.00 $18.50 $18.00
Large Plasmids (25kb to 100kb) $27 $26 $25
XL Plasmids (>100kb) $60 $58 $56

Sanger DNA Sequencing – UBC Academic Researchers.

Samples submitted < 16 16 to 47 >47
Prepared by facility      
Pre-mixed Samples
(Normalized Concentration,
8-strip tubes or 96-well plates)
$9.50 $7.50 $6.50
Standard service
(Normalized concentration)
$11.50 $9.50 $8.50
Surcharge to Normalize
Sample Concentration
$3.00 $3.00 $3.00
Surcharge for BAC/cosmid
or low concentration samples
$1.50 $1.50 $1.50
Ready-to-run $3.25 $3.00 $3.00

Sanger DNA Sequencing – non-UBC Academic researchers. Please inquire for industry pricing.

Samples submitted < 16 16 to 47 >47
Prepared by facility      
Pre-mixed Samples
(Normalized Concentration,
8-strip tubes or 96-well plates)
$10.50 $8.50 $7.50
Standard service
(Normalized concentration)
$12.50 $10.50 $9.50
   Surcharge to Normalize
   Sample Concentration
$3.00 $3.00 $3.00
Surcharge for BAC/cosmid
or low concentration samples
$1.50 $1.50 $1.50
Ready-to-run $4.25 $3.75 $3.75

Additional information on fees:

  • All fees include taxes, are quoted in Canadian dollars, and are subject to change.
  • To be eligible for volume discounts (more than 15 samples), all samples must be of same type and submitted at the same time.
  • To be eligible for our “Pre-Mixed Samples” pricing, samples mixed with primers must conform to requirements detailed in the Pre-Mixed Samples Service section above.
  • Standard service” includes reaction setup, sequencing reaction, and provision of analyzed .ab1 files (or other format upon request). See Sample Preparation – Standard Service above for more information.
  • For “ready-to-run“, the user provides cleaned sequencing products, facility resuspends in formamide, denatures and runs samples on sequencer, and provides analyzed .ab1 files (or other format upon request). Please provide samples in 8-strip PCR tubes or 96-well plates if greater than 4 samples submitted. Please contact facility for further details.
  • Specialty sequencing (BAC, cosmid) and other samples that require additional sequencing reagents (ie. concentration is outside of indicated range) will incur a $1.50/reaction surcharge.
  • If a sequence fails due to facility’s error or equipment malfunction, it will be repeated at no charge. All other sequence failures and repeats are customer’s responsibility.

SAMPLE SUBMISSION

Click here to download the DNA sequencing request form. Please send the .xlsx form as an email attachment with each submission.

Samples can be dropped off at the BCCHR shipping and receiving at 950 West 28th Avenue (before 4:00 pm), by calling 604-875-3814 to reach the facility, or by courier to the address below. On-site researchers may drop off samples in the facility’s freezer in room 3028 or A3-193.

BILLING AUTHORIZATION AND INVOICING

Invoicing will be processed on a monthly basis by the Workday Internal Service Delivery (ISD) process for UBC customers.  To enable monthly billing to your UBC grant, please complete the ISD Authorization Form available here. Non-UBC customers will be invoiced monthly.

CUSTOM DNA OLIGO SYNTHESIS

Custom DNA oligo synthesis is available through the IDT – CMMT Stores Web-Portal. For information on this portal, please visit the CMMT/BCCHR Stores webpage. To go directly to the portal click here: IDT – CMMT Stores Portal.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For additional information and to submit samples please contact:

Ms. Mona Moniri
(604) 875-3814
dna@cmmt.ubc.ca

Mailing Address:

CMMT/BCCHR DNA Sequencing Core Facility
Attention: Ms. Mona Moniri
The Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics
950 West 28th Avenue, Room A3-193
Vancouver, BC
V5Z 4H4 Canada

Dropping Off Samples in Person?

Please meet us at the south entrance of the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. This is Entrance #4 shown on the map on the Contact Us page.

For further information on CMMT Core Facilities, please contact:

Michael Hockertz
hockertz@cmmt.ubc.ca
(604) 875-3816