Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)

Accessible whole-genome sequencing

Using capillary electrophoresis-based Sanger sequencing, the Human Genome Project took over 10 years and cost nearly $3 billion.

Next-generation sequencing, in contrast, makes large-scale whole-genome sequencing (WGS) accessible and practical for the average researcher. It enables scientists to analyze the entire human genome in a single sequencing experiment, or sequence thousands to tens of thousands of genomes in one year.

Learn more about WGS

Broad dynamic range for expression profiling

NGS-based RNA-Seq is a powerful method that enables researchers to break through the inefficiency and expense of legacy technologies such as microarrays. Microarray gene expression measurement is limited by noise at the low end and signal saturation at the high end.

In contrast, next-generation sequencing quantifies discrete, digital sequencing read counts, offering a broader dynamic range.^3,4,5

Compare microarrays vs RNA-Seq

Tunable resolution for targeted NGS

Targeted sequencing allows you to sequence a subset of genes or specific genomic regions of interest, efficiently and cost-effectively focusing the power of NGS. NGS is highly scalable, allowing you to tune the level of resolution to meet experimental needs. Choose whether to do a shallow scan across multiple samples, or sequence at greater depth with fewer samples to find rare variants in a given region.

Learn more about:

• Targeted sequencing
• NGS vs Sanger sequencing
• NGS vs qPCR

Advancing drug discovery with microbiome studies

NGS-based whole-genome shotgun sequencing and transcriptomics provide researchers and pharmaceutical companies with data to refine drug discovery and development.

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Exploring the tumor microenvironment

Scientists use single-cell NGS techniques to study cancer microenvironments, elucidate gene expression patterns, and gain insights into drug resistance and metastasis.

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Cell-free RNA as a noninvasive biomarker

This research highlights the broad potential of circulating cell-free RNA sequencing for biomarker discovery and noninvasive health monitoring.

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References

1. Bentley DR, Balasubramanian S, Swerdlow HP, et al. Accurate Whole Human Genome Sequencing using Reversible Terminator Chemistry. Nature. 2008; 456 (7218): 53–59.
2. Shendure J and Ji H. Next-generation DNA sequencing. Nat Biotechnol. 2008; 26(10): 1135-1145.
3. Wang Z, Gerstein M, Snyder M. RNA-Seq: a revolutionary tool for transcriptomics. Nat Rev Genet. 2009; 10: 57–63.
4. Wilhelm BT, Landry JR. RNA-Seq—quantitative measurement of expression through massively parallel RNA sequencing. Methods. 2009; 48: 249–57.
5. Zhao S, Fung-Leung WP, Bittner A, and Ngo K, Liu X. Comparison of RNA-Seq and microarray in transcriptome profiling of activated T cells. PLoS One. 2014; 16;9(1): e78644.