A Chinese-developed DNA chip technology was auctioned November 7 for 31 million yuan (US$3.73 million) at the 7th China Yangling Agricultural High-tech Expo.
The expo is being held in the State Yangling Agricultural High-tech Industries Pilot Zone, located in Wugong County, 90 kilometers from Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province.
The DNA chip technology, developed by experts from Xi'an Jiaotong University, was bought by a non-governmental enterprise--Xi'an Zhengde Company, which is engaged in the environmental protection industry. The auction shows that the DNA chip technology is expected to go into batch production soon, experts said.
Researchers said that they have developed DNA chips for testing five indices of hepatitis B, prenatal care, viral hepatitis and venereal diseases.
They said that the cost of producing and using the chips is very low. Taking the DNA chip for testing hepatitis B for example,they pointed out, the cost is only 1 yuan (about US$0.12) and the test results can come out within 15 minutes just by dropping blood or serum onto the chip.
(People's Daily 11/08/2000)
