Animation 17.2: High-Throughput Sequencing

INTRODUCTION

The first decade of the new millennium has seen rapid development of high-throughput sequencing methods—fast, cheap ways to sequence and analyze large genomes. The techniques are often referred to as massively parallel DNA sequencing, because thousands or millions of sequencing reactions are run at the same time to greatly speed up the process. The methods use miniaturization techniques first developed for the electronics industry, as well as the principles of DNA replication, often in combination with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

High-throughput sequencing methods are evolving rapidly. This animation describes two high-throughput methods. In one method, DNA is amplified on a solid surface and then sequenced using fluorescently labeled nucleotides. In the second method, the DNA is amplified by PCR on microbeads and analyzed by pyrosequencing using the enzyme luciferase to produce a light reaction.

Video titled: Animation 17.2: High-Throughput Sequencing

Transcript Area

CONCLUSION

The power of high-throughput sequencing methods derives from the following factors:

• They are fully automated and miniaturized.

• Millions of different fragments are sequenced at the same time.

• They are inexpensive ways to sequence large genomes. For example, at the time of this writing, a complete human genome can be sequenced in less than a day for $1,000. This is in contrast to the Human Genome Project, which took 13 years and $2.7 billion to sequence one genome!

The technology used to sequence millions of short DNA fragments is only half the story, however. Once these sequences have been determined, the problem becomes how to put them together. The field of bioinformatics was developed to analyze DNA sequences using sophisticated mathematics and computer programs to handle the large amounts of data generated in genome sequencing.

Textbook Reference: Key Concept 17.1 Genomes Can Be Sequenced Rapidly

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