These can be reduced similarly:
```python
for sstatus in seq_statuses:
    selected = 'selected' if sstatus == sequencing_status else ''
    req.write('<option value="{0}" {1}>{0}</option>'.format(sstatus, selected))
```
Also, does it matter whether you use single or double quotes here in the HTML?  I think double quotes are preferred for attribute values (so this line is correct, but there are some elsewhere that might be changed)