Patents by Inventor Sydney Brenner

Sydney Brenner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8728729
    Abstract: An apparatus and system are provided for simultaneously analyzing a plurality of analytes anchored to microparticles. Microparticles each having a uniform population of a single kind of analyte attached are disposed as a substantially immobilized planar array inside of a flow chamber where steps of an analytical process are carried out by delivering a sequence of processing reagents to the microparticles by a fluidic system under microprocessor control. In response to such process steps, an optical signal is generated at the surface of each microparticle which is characteristic of the interaction between the analyte carried by the microparticle and the delivered processing reagent. The plurality of analytes are simultaneously analyzed by collecting and recording images of the optical signals generated by all the microparticles in the planar array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: John Bridgham, Kevin Corcoran, George Golda, Michael C. Pallas, Sydney Brenner
  • Patent number: 8722368
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: James Casbon, Sydney Brenner, Robert Osborne, Conrad Lichtenstein, Andreas Claas
  • Patent number: 8715967
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: James Casbon, Sydney Brenner, Robert Osborne, Conrad Lichtenstein, Andreas Claas
  • Patent number: 8685678
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: James Casbon, Sydney Brenner, Robert Osborne, Conrad Lichtenstein, Andreas Claas
  • Patent number: 8679756
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are drawn to processes for moving a region of interest in a polynucleotide from a first position to a second position with regard to a domain within the polynucleotide, also referred to as a “reflex method”. In certain embodiments, the reflex method results in moving a region of interest into functional proximity to specific domain elements present in the polynucleotide (e.g., primer sites and/or MID). Compositions, kits and systems that find use in carrying out the reflex processes described herein are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Sydney Brenner, Gi Mikawa, Robert Osborne, Andrew Slatter
  • Publication number: 20140073512
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are drawn to processes for moving a region of interest in a polynucleotide from a first position to a second position with regard to a domain within the polynucleotide, also referred to as a “reflex method”. In certain embodiments, the reflex method results in moving a region of interest into functional proximity to specific domain elements present in the polynucleotide (e.g., primer sites and/or MID). Compositions, kits and systems that find use in carrying out the reflex processes described herein are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: SYDNEY BRENNER, GI MIKAWA, ROBERT OSBORNE, ANDREW SLATTER
  • Publication number: 20140011708
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for attaching oligonucleotide tags to polynucleotides for the purpose of carrying out analytical assays in parallel and for decoding the oligonucleotide tags of polynucleotides selected in such assays. Words, or subunits, of oligonucleotide tags index submixtures in successively more complex sets of submixtures (referred to herein as “tiers” of submixtures) that a polynucleotide goes through while successive words are added to a growing tag. By identifying each word of an oligonucleotide tag, a series of submixtures is identified including the first submixture that contains only a single polynucleotide, thereby providing the identity of the selected polynucleotide. The analysis of the words of an oligonucleotide tag can be carried out in parallel, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd
    Inventor: Sydney Brenner
  • Patent number: 8563274
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are drawn to processes for moving a region of interest in a polynucleotide from a first position to a second position with regard to a domain within the polynucleotide, also referred to as a “reflex method”. In certain embodiments, the reflex method results in moving a region of interest into functional proximity to specific domain elements present in the polynucleotide (e.g., primer sites and/or MID). Compositions, kits and systems that find use in carrying out the reflex processes described herein are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Sydney Brenner, Gi Mikawa, Robert Osborne, Andrew Slatter
  • Publication number: 20130267424
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: James Casbon, Sydney Brenner, Robert Osborne, Conrad Lichtenstein, Andreas Claas
  • Publication number: 20130237458
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: James Casbon, Sydney Brenner, Robert Osborne, Conrad Lichtenstein, Andreas Claas
  • Patent number: 8481292
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Litd.
    Inventors: James Casbon, Sydney Brenner, Robert Osborne, Conrad Lichtenstein, Andreas Claas
  • Patent number: 8476018
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for attaching oligonucleotide tags to polynucleotides for the purpose of carrying out analytical assays in parallel and for decoding the oligonucleotide tags of polynucleotides selected in such assays. Words, or subunits, of oligonucleotide tags index submixtures in successively more complex sets of submixtures (referred to herein as “tiers” of submixtures) that a polynucleotide goes through while successive words are added to a growing tag. By identifying each word of an oligonucleotide tag, a series of submixtures is identified including the first submixture that contains only a single polynucleotide, thereby providing the identity of the selected polynucleotide. The analysis of the words of an oligonucleotide tag can be carried out in parallel, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd
    Inventor: Sydney Brenner
  • Patent number: 8470996
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for attaching oligonucleotide tags to polynucleotides for the purpose of carrying out analytical assays in parallel and for decoding the oligonucleotide tags of polynucleotides selected in such assays. Words, or subunits, of oligonucleotide tags index submixtures in successively more complex sets of submixtures (referred to herein as “tiers” of submixtures) that a polynucleotide goes through while successive words are added to a growing tag. By identifying each word of an oligonucleotide tag, a series of submixtures is identified including the first submixture that contains only a single polynucleotide, thereby providing the identity of the selected polynucleotide. The analysis of the words of an oligonucleotide tag can be carried out in parallel, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd
    Inventor: Sydney Brenner
  • Patent number: 8445205
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for tagging nucleic acid sequence fragments, e.g., a set of nucleic acid sequence fragments from a single genome, with one or more unique members of a collection of oligonucleotide tags, or sequence tokens, which, in turn, can be identified using a variety of readout platforms. As a general rule, a given sequence token is used once and only once in any tag sequence. In addition, the present invention also provides methods for using the sequence tokens to efficiently determine variations in nucleotide sequences in the associated nucleic acid sequence fragments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Sydney Brenner
  • Publication number: 20130065770
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for attaching oligonucleotide tags to polynucleotides for the purpose of carrying out analytical assays in parallel and for decoding the oligonucleotide tags of polynucleotides selected in such assays. Words, or subunits, of oligonucleotide tags index submixtures in successively more complex sets of submixtures (referred to herein as “tiers” of submixtures) that a polynucleotide goes through while successive words are added to a growing tag. By identifying each word of an oligonucleotide tag, a series of submixtures is identified including the first submixture that contains only a single polynucleotide, thereby providing the identity of the selected polynucleotide. The analysis of the words of an oligonucleotide tag can be carried out in parallel, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Sydney Brenner
  • Publication number: 20130065793
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for attaching oligonucleotide tags to polynucleotides for the purpose of carrying out analytical assays in parallel and for decoding the oligonucleotide tags of polynucleotides selected in such assays. Words, or subunits, of oligonucleotide tags index submixtures in successively more complex sets of submixtures (referred to herein as “tiers” of submixtures) that a polynucleotide goes through while successive words are added to a growing tag. By identifying each word of an oligonucleotide tag, a series of submixtures is identified including the first submixture that contains only a single polynucleotide, thereby providing the identity of the selected polynucleotide. The analysis of the words of an oligonucleotide tag can be carried out in parallel, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Sydney Brenner
  • Patent number: 8361713
    Abstract: An apparatus and system are provided for simultaneously analyzing a plurality of analytes anchored to microparticles. Microparticles each having a uniform population of a single kind of analyte attached are disposed as a substantially immobilized planar array inside of a flow chamber where steps of an analytical process are carried out by delivering a sequence of processing reagents to the microparticles by a fluidic system under microprocessor control. In response to such process steps, an optical signal is generated at the surface of each microparticle which is characteristic of the interaction between the analyte carried by the microparticle and the delivered processing reagent. The plurality of analytes are simultaneously analyzed by collecting and recording images of the optical signals generated by all the microparticles in the planar array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: John Bridgham, Kevin Corcoran, George Golda, Michael C. Pallas, Sydney Brenner
  • Patent number: 8318433
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for attaching oligonucleotide tags to polynucleotides for the purpose of carrying out analytical assays in parallel and for decoding the oligonucleotide tags of polynucleotides selected in such assays. Words, or subunits, of oligonucleotide tags index submixtures in successively more complex sets of submixtures (referred to herein as “tiers” of submixtures) that a polynucleotide goes through while successive words are added to a growing tag. By identifying each word of an oligonucleotide tag, a series of submixtures is identified including the first submixture that contains only a single polynucleotide, thereby providing the identity of the selected polynucleotide. The analysis of the words of an oligonucleotide tag can be carried out in parallel, e.g. by hybridization of the oligonucleotide tag to its tag complement on an addressable array; or such analysis can be carried out serially by successive hybridizations of labeled word complements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Sydney Brenner
  • Publication number: 20120277107
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for attaching oligonucleotide tags to polynucleotides for the purpose of carrying out analytical assays in parallel and for decoding the oligonucleotide tags of polynucleotides selected in such assays. Words, or subunits, of oligonucleotide tags index submixtures in successively more complex sets of submixtures (referred to herein as “tiers” of submixtures) that a polynucleotide goes through while successive words are added to a growing tag. By identifying each word of an oligonucleotide tag, a series of submixtures is identified including the first submixture that contains only a single polynucleotide, thereby providing the identity of the selected polynucleotide. The analysis of the words of an oligonucleotide tag can be carried out in parallel, e.g. by hybridization of the oligonucleotide tag to its tag complement on an addressable array; or such analysis can be carried out serially by successive hybridizations of labeled word complements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Sydney Brenner
  • Patent number: 8298767
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are drawn to processes for moving a region of interest in a polynucleotide from a first position to a second position with regard to a domain within the polynucleotide, also referred to as a “reflex method”. In certain embodiments, the reflex method results in moving a region of interest into functional proximity to specific domain elements present in the polynucleotide (e.g., primer sites and/or MID). Compositions, kits and systems that find use in carrying out the reflex processes described herein are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Population Genetics Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Sydney Brenner, Gi Mikawa, Robert Osborne, Andrew Slatter