Next Generation
Next Generation
Submitted By:
Group 11
Alishba: Chem201102064
Topic:
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) through bioinformatics and databases
Subject:
BIOI-2101-Introduction to Bioinformatics
Today's complex genomics questions demand a depth of information beyond the capacity of
traditional DNA sequencing technologies. NGS has filled that gap and become an everyday tool to
address these questions.
Bioinformatics
Besides generating NGS, we provide rigorous bioinformatic analyses individually tailored to each
project. Utilising best practice techniques, the latest analyses and bespoke statistically robust
methods, we apply computational methods to answer a large range of biological questions.
Although sequencing bioinformatics is our primary computational role, we also work with data
generated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, light microscopy
and electron microscopy experiments on our high-performance computing cluster.
Our work
Next Generation Sequencing
We undertake all NGS projects within the institute. Most commonly these include:
Equipment
Illumina MiSeq
Read length up to 2 x 300 bp
Up to 25M reads per run
Turnover time for small projects as fast as 9 hours run time
Applications – Viral/bacterial genome, targeted re-sequencing
Nucleic acid extraction and isolation is a vital first step in next generation sequencing. This is
regardless of whether you are sequencing total RNA, genomic DNA, or various RNA types. The
extraction method that’s used will depend on the starting material. It is crucial to choose an
extraction protocol that’s optimized to yield the maximum amount and highest purity of nucleic
acid from the respective sample type. The yield, quality and integrity of isolated nucleic acids are
critical for successful sequencing and must be assessed before proceeding to the next step.
Library preparation involves preparing DNA or RNA samples so they can be processed and read
by sequencers. This is done by fragmenting the samples to yield a pool of appropriately sized
targets, then adding specialized adapters at both ends, which will later interact with the NGS
platform. These prepared, ready-to-sequence samples are called “libraries”. A library represents
a collection of molecules that can be sequenced. The exact library preparation procedure may
differ depending on the reagents and methods used. Regardless of the procedure used, the final
prepared NGS libraries must contain DNA fragments of desired lengths with adapters at both
ends.
Sequencing by synthesis (SBS) is the next step after clonal amplification. In this step the library is
loaded onto the sequencer, which then ‘reads’ or detects the nucleotides one by one.
This final step involves three stages – processing, analysis, and interpretation of the raw
sequencing data generated. A variety of bioinformatics tools are used to process, analyze, and
interpret the raw sequencing data and convert it into meaningful information. The exact tools
Applications of NGS
Next-generation sequencing 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 labs to: