The massively parallel sequencing technology known as next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the biological sciences. With its ultra-high throughput, scalability, and speed, NGS enables researchers to perform a wide variety of applications and study biological systems at a level never before possible.
Today's complex genomic research questions demand a depth of information beyond the capacity of traditional DNA sequencing technologies. Next-generation sequencing has filled that gap and become an everyday research tool to address these questions.
We'll guide you through the basics of NGS, with tutorials and tips for planning your first experiment.
Get StartedNGS technology has fundamentally changed the kinds of questions scientists can ask and answer. Innovative sample preparation and data analysis options enable a broad range of applications. For example, NGS allows researchers to:
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.
Explore user-friendly tools designed to make data analysis accessible to any researcher, regardless of bioinformatics experience.
Whole-exome and transcriptome sequencing prove beneficial in uncovering mutations and pathways associated with rare disease.
Learn MoreNGS-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-gen sequencing quantifies discrete, digital sequencing read counts, offering a broader dynamic range.1,2,3
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:
Next-generation sequencing is uniquely positioned in an infectious disease surveillance and outbreak model. Learn which NGS methods are recommended for detecting and characterizing SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens, tracking transmission, studying co-infection, and investigating viral evolution.
Explore Coronavirus NGS MethodsIllumina sequencing utilizes a fundamentally different approach from the classic Sanger chain-termination method. It leverages sequencing by synthesis (SBS) technology – tracking the addition of labeled nucleotides as the DNA chain is copied – in a massively parallel fashion.
Next-generation sequencing generates masses of DNA sequencing data, and is both less expensive and less time-consuming than traditional Sanger sequencing.2 Illumina sequencing systems can deliver data output ranging from 300 kilobases up to multiple terabases in a single run, depending on instrument type and configuration.
This detailed overview of Illumina sequencing describes the evolution of genomic science, major advances in sequencing technology, key methods, the basics of Illumina sequencing chemistry, and more.
Read IntroductionThis UK-wide study uses NGS to compare the genomes of severely and mildly ill COVID-19 patients, to help uncover genetic factors associated with susceptibility.
Read ArticleResearchers use single-cell techniques to study cancer microenvironments, to elucidate gene expression patterns and gain insights into drug resistance and metastasis.
Read ArticleWhen qPCR provided “hit-and-miss” results, researchers switched to NGS and discovered exercise intensity-dependent variants linked to blood pressure.
Read ArticleRecent Illumina next-generation sequencing technology breakthroughs include:
Find out how Illumina SBS technology originated and evolved over time.
The resources below offer valuable guidance to researchers who are considering purchasing an NGS system.
Use our interactive platform selection tool to identify the right sequencer for your needs.
Learn about read length, coverage, quality scores, and other experimental considerations to help you plan your sequencing run. You can use our interactive tools to help you create an NGS protocol or select the right products and methods for your project.
These reviews highlight some of the key ways NGS technology is furthering scientific research, in areas ranging from gene editing to single-cell analysis, cell biology, microbiology, and more.
Our 2021 CSR Report documents a year of positive impact
Read ArticleDeveloping and automating best-practice workflows that make analyzing, processing, and disseminating genomic data accessible to researchers and clinicians.
Read InterviewHealth advocates highlight the urgent need to address challenges faced by people living with a rare disease
Read ArticleUse our next-generation sequencing glossary to clarify key terms and important concepts as you plan your sequencing project.