[THE INVESTOR] South Korean biotechnology firm Seegene on Wednesday said that it has introduced a new platform technology that automates steps involved in “molecular diagnostics” such as DNA analysis.

Seegene’s newly developed “real-time PCR” platform technology, the “SGsilico,” is able to automate the dozens of steps involved in the “molecular assay” procedure -- analyzing the given components of a substance, such as human genes.

Molecular diagnostics can determine and diagnose what kind of disease or condition a patient may have by analyzing his or her extracted DNA to examine its makeup, track changes and so on.

Until now, each of the steps involved in the molecular diagnostics procedure had been conducted by human scientists. By digitizing such information, Seegene’s new technology can cut down the assay development time that usually takes three months to a year, to less than a week, the firm said.

“SGsilico is by far the best solution in regards to its simplicity, time savings, and cost effectiveness in assay development. This solution can be used in research areas such as infectious diseases, cancers, and other genetic disorders,” founder and CEO of Seegene Chun Jong-yoon said in a statement.

By Sohn Ji-young/The Korea Herald (jys@heraldcorp.com)