Abstract: A robotic system for performing nucleic acid sequencing reactions in microtiter plate format. The robot has a robot arm and its controller, robot hands with which it can manipulate microtiter plates with lids and microtiter plates without lids and with which it can perform pipetting in the 5 to 200 microliter range, cooled storage chambers with electronically controllable doors for storage of microtiter plates, cooled storage with an electronically controllable cover for storage of nucleic acid sequencing reagents, heating blocks to incubate the reactions at appropriate temperatures above ambient temperature, storage for boxes of micropipet tips, storage for microtiter plates in which sequence reactions will be performed and software for controlling the operation of the robot during pipetting.

Abstract: Methods of determining genetic predisposition for vascular aneurysm in mammals are disclosed. The base sequence of Type III procollagen DNA of the person tested is compared to the sequence of a standard pro.alpha.l(III) sequence. Differences in the base sequence of the test DNA indicate an increased likelihood that the person will develop vascular aneurysm. Family members of the mammal tested can also be tested to determine if they also have a genetic predisposition to vascular aneurysm by testing for the presence of the mutation in the pro.alpha.l(III) gene of the family members.