Berlin-based Atlas Biolabs recently became certified under Roche NimbleGen's service provider program. It will offer DNA capture services using NimbleGen arrays followed by sequencing on 454's GS FLX.

Life Tech is also launching a sample prep instrument to speed up the emulsion PCR, and a three-year, $100 million initiative to address challenges in analyzing and interpreting large amounts of whole-genome sequencing data.

The scientists said the project illustrates that thorough sequence analyses of cancer genomes can be done quickly, efficiently, and at a low cost outside of the large sequencing centers.

Life Technologies officials said that less than 5 percent of the company's revenue currently comes from next-generation sequencing, but forecast double-digit growth of next-gen revenues in 2010.

Some researchers are looking at short-read platforms such as the Illumina Genome Analyzer for immunogenetics applications, but a 454 official said that the long read lengths of the company's platform — currently in the range of 400 or more base pairs — make it ideal for immunogenetics research.