# How to Sequence DNA from Tiny Samples Using Specialized Plates > A method for preparing DNA for genetic sequencing by splitting tiny samples into a 5184-well plate to ensure accurate data from very few cells. - **Patent:** US 10456769 - **Original title:** Method of constructing sequencing library - **Owner:** Bgi Shenzhen & Bgi Shenzhen Co Ltd - **Granted:** 2019 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 1 - **Field:** biotech, semiconductors ## What it does This patent describes a specific workflow for preparing DNA for high-throughput sequencing, designed to handle samples with as few as 10 to 500 cells. The process involves distributing single-stranded DNA into a 5184-well plate, where the volume of each well is strictly controlled to 350 nL. By keeping the sample size small and the distribution precise, the method ensures that homologous chromosome fragments from both parents are unlikely to end up in the same well. After amplification and fragmentation using a transposase enzyme, the resulting DNA library is ready for sequencing. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover sequencing methods that do not use the specific 5184-well plate configuration. - Does not cover general whole genome amplification techniques performed outside of this specific plate-based workflow. - Does not cover sequencing libraries with lengths outside the 550 bp to 1000 bp range specified in the claims. - Does not cover workflows where the probability of homologous chromosome overlap exceeds 1%. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in using a high-density 5184-well plate to physically isolate DNA fragments before amplification, which statistically separates homologous chromosomes and simplifies the complex task of reassembling the genome later. ## Real-world examples 1. Single-cell genomic sequencing workflows 2. Rare clinical sample genetic analysis 3. High-throughput DNA library preparation systems ## Why it matters This method is significant for single-cell genomics and rare-sample analysis, where researchers have very little genetic material to work with. By minimizing the overlap of paternal and maternal chromosomes in a single well, it reduces errors in phasing, which is the process of determining which genetic variants belong to which chromosome. This is critical for clinical diagnostics and research into complex genetic diseases. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How to Sequence DNA from Tiny Samples Using Specialized Plates cover? A method for preparing DNA for genetic sequencing by splitting tiny samples into a 5184-well plate to ensure accurate data from very few cells. ### Who owns patent US 10456769? Bgi Shenzhen & Bgi Shenzhen Co Ltd owns this patent, granted in 2019. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on August 3, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10456769 cited by? This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This method is significant for single-cell genomics and rare-sample analysis, where researchers have very little genetic material to work with. By minimizing the overlap of paternal and maternal chromosomes in a single well, it reduces errors in phasing, which is the process of determining which genetic variants belong to which chromosome. This is critical for clinical diagnostics and research into complex genetic diseases. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover sequencing methods that do not use the specific 5184-well plate configuration. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10456769/method-of-constructing-sequencing-library **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10456769 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Using Heat-Resistant Enzymes to Read DNA Sequences Faster](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5075216/modified-taq-polymerase) — This patent describes using a heat-stable enzyme from a bacterium that lives in hot springs to make the process of reading DNA code much more reliable and efficient. - [How to Make Many Copies of a Specific DNA Segment](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4683202/pcr-polymerase-chain-reaction-mullis) — This patent describes the fundamental three-step process for making millions of copies of a specific piece of DNA using short starter molecules and an enzyme, a technique known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). - [How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4965188/taq-polymerase-for-pcr) — This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes. - [How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4683195/pcr-polymerase-chain-reaction) — This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis. - [How an Enzyme Helps Find Specific DNA in a Sample](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5210015/hcv-pcr-detection) — This patent describes a method for detecting a specific DNA sequence in a sample by using a labeled DNA probe and an enzyme that cuts the probe, releasing detectable fragments.