Shawn Baker

Shawn Baker

@sandiegomics.bsky.social

Genomics consultant/advisor/investor https://sandiegomics.com

891 followers186 following96 posts

Shawn Baker
@sandiegomics.bsky.social

Ultima Genomics is pushing the boundaries of low cost DNA sequencing. Their new Solaris 2.0 Max pushes down the cost to $60/genome and 60k genomes per year. Is it enough to move the needle, or are we past the "genome cost" game? #ASHG26 www.prnewswire.com/news-release...

prnewswire.comUltima Genomics Launches Paired-End Sequencing and Solaris 2.0 Max at ASHG 2026, Doubling Output and Enabling the $60 GenomePaired-end sequencing now available on the UG200™ Series, advancing workflow compatibility and quality for germline whole genome sequencing (WGS) and other...

Shawn Baker reposted

Jonathan Wosen
@jonathanwosen.bsky.social

Jeffrey Epstein’s tissue samples ignited a furor in the Harvard lab of George Church, reports @mmolteni.bsky.social in this @statnews.com exclusive. 13 years later, the whereabouts of the sex offender’s skin cells are a mystery www.statnews.com/2026/02/24/e...

statnews.comJeffrey Epstein’s tissue samples ignited a furor in the Harvard lab of George ChurchExclusive: Harvard geneticist George Church knew more about Jeffrey Epstein's activities than he has previously said, before accepting new donations from the sex offender.
Shawn Baker
@sandiegomics.bsky.social

I have a little more detail and some commentary here - sandiegomics.com/element-join...

sandiegomics.comElement Joins the High-Throughput Market with the VITARI PlatformBack at JPM Element teased that they would be coming out with the VITARI, a benchtop sequencer capable of generating whole genomes for $100. This would best Illumina’s list price of $200 with the N…
Element Biosciences@elembio.bsky.social

Today we’re thrilled to introduce VITARI™ — the first high-throughput benchtop sequencing system delivering a $100 genome. “VITARI is about removing the limits from scientific ambition” — Molly He, CEO & Co-Founder, Element Learn more about VITARI: https://bit.ly/3OqIS8v.

Shawn Baker reposted

Element Biosciences
@elembio.bsky.social

📢 We are very proud to announce that over 50 of our #AVITI24 5D #multiomic systems have already been installed around the globe enabling scientists to unravel the most complex questions about our biology. bit.ly/458UCky

bit.lyElement Biosciences Surpasses 50 AVITI24™ 5D Multiomic System Installations In Just MonthsElement Biosciences today announced that installations of its flagship AVITI24 5D Multiomic system have surpassed 50 units globally.
Shawn Baker
@sandiegomics.bsky.social

Atlas, Twist's DNA data storage spin-off, is claiming that "pretty quickly" the majority of DNA sequencing (by "orders of magnitude") will be for reading data storage. I'm skeptical. Maybe we have different definitions of "pretty quickly". #dnasynth #datastorage www.genomeweb.com/business-new...

genomeweb.comTwist Spinoff Atlas Data Storage Designing Chip, Seeking Partner for Sequencing DNA-Based ArchivesThe California startup will have to convince companies across the economy to swap from rolls of magnetic tape to DNA as the vessel for their most important digital data.

Shawn Baker reposted

Kristian G. Andersen
@kgandersen.bsky.social

Quick update on this - a good one! Thanks to our fantastic colleagues at county HHSA, we're able to continue our wastewater surveillance work, including generating retroactive data from the last few months, as well as new data moving forward. For how long, we'll see, but expect updates soon! 🌟❤️

Kristian G. Andersen@kgandersen.bsky.social

Very thankful to @sandiegouniontribune.com for covering the termination of our wastewater surveillance in San Diego. If we don't want to lose sight of infectious diseases in our community, we need new funding - please reach out: searchcovid.info www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/07/d...

sandiegouniontribune.comDOGE cuts shut down San Diego County’s wastewater testing systemOther alternatives are available, but none show coronavirus subtypes like San Diego’s SEARCH
Shawn Baker
@sandiegomics.bsky.social

@jaredwhitlock.bsky.social has written an article about the many new companies spun out/spawned by ex-Illuminites. In it he references the crowdsourced "Illumina Diaspora" database Millard Chan and I created to keep track of them all. sandiegomics.com/illumina-dia... endpts.com/how-illumina...

endpts.comDNA giant Illumina spawned an ecosystem of competitors and customersFor Illumina, its former employees are both a boon and a problem. In the 27 years since its founding, the DNA sequencing company unlocked new frontiers in biology, medicine and ...
Shawn Baker
@sandiegomics.bsky.social

This has to be one of the most "anti-science" and "anti-common sense" administrations the US has ever had. Tariffs are a tax, pure and simple and the consumer will be the one to pay the cost.

Graham Wiley@gbw42.bsky.social

Tariffs hit the $ILMN supply chain.

Shawn Baker
@sandiegomics.bsky.social

Things just keep getting worse for ILMN. Stagnant growth, increased competition from @elembio.bsky.social and Ultima, the threat of competition from Roche SBX, and now they’re shut down in China where they get 7% of their revenue. Yikes. www.reuters.com/business/hea...

reuters.comChina bans imports of Illumina's gene sequencers right after Trump tariff actionChina announced a ban on Tuesday on imports of genetic sequencers from U.S. medical equipment maker Illumina , just minutes after U.S. President Donald Trump's additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods took effect.
Shawn Baker
@sandiegomics.bsky.social

Looking forward to seeing what 10X has in store for 2025

10x Genomics@10xgenomics.bsky.social

We’re getting revved up for our pre-conference workshop this afternoon – and it’s going to be high octane. We’re starting at 1:30 PM in the Banyan ballroom. If you’re following along from home, don’t forget to tune into the livestream: bit.ly/4gB5z2g

Shawn Baker reposted

Jared Whitlock
@jaredwhitlock.bsky.social

I am the features editor at Endpoints News. We're closely reporting on the Trump administration slashing the federal workforce and the impact on biomedical research. I want to hear your stories and tips. Signal at: @jaredwhitlock.73. I can honor requests for anonymity.

Shawn Baker
@sandiegomics.bsky.social

Maybe a little too much credit to Element and Ultima, but otherwise an excellent story!

coregenomics.bsky.social@coregenomics.bsky.social

Excited about what's coming up on Feb 20th from Roche or at AGBT - Advances in Genome Biology and Technology? Here's a light-hearted Book of the Genome over at Enseqlopedia: enseqlopedia.com/2025/02/the-...

Shawn Baker
@sandiegomics.bsky.social

#AGBT sounds like it's going to be a banger with lots of big announcements. The latest is Illumina announcing their upcoming high resolution, broad coverage, large surface area spatial transcriptomics platform. Set for launch in 2026. www.genengnews.com/topics/omics...

genengnews.comIllumina Unveils Spatial Technology Days Before AGBT MeetingIllumina announces a new NGS-based spatial technology kit and new software platform, Illumina Connected Multiomics.

Shawn Baker reposted

coregenomics.bsky.social
@coregenomics.bsky.social

Hi everyone on Bluesky working in #genomics #NGS. Today is Valentines day. How many of you are more excited about Feb 20th?! Read my new post on Enseqlopedia Roche emerges from the Lazarus pit to take on Illumina enseqlopedia.com/2025/02/roch...

enseqlopedia.comRoche emerges from the Lazarus pitIs Roche going to "knock it out of the park" or "jump the shark"? Everyone I know is excited, even if many of them are sceptical, about the Feb 20th webinar and what we will learn about SBX. Alex Dick...

Shawn Baker reposted

Ewan Birney
@ewanbirney.bsky.social

Some thoughts about what I am looking forward this year from my vantage point of computational molecular biology. One mega-trend for me; we will definitely see more AI methods of all sorts emerge.