Next Generation Sequencing: What is it and when to use it? 

High-throughput sequencing techniques have revolutionalized functional genomics. These techniques are more and more popularized, allowing great progress in research.

What is it exactly?

The term NGS (Next Generation Sequencing), also known as "high-throughput sequencing" and refers to different sequencing technologies, amongst which are:

• Illumina sequencing (most used)
• Roche 454
• Ion torrent
• SOLiD
• Helicos BioSciences

These technologies allow the sequencing of DNA or RNA much faster than the famous Sanger technique.

How does it work?

Three steps are shared for these techniques:

Bank Preparation

Banks are created by random DNA fragmentation followed by linking to small specific sequences.

Amplification

The bank is amplified by clonal amplification methods and PCR.

Sequencing

The DNA is sequenced using different methods depending on the technology.

For what application?

There are many applications possible, here are some :

Because it is an evolving technology, NGS can be used for sequencing non-referenced genomic sequences (de novo sequencing), for re-sequencing referenced genomes to find new genetic variants, analyzing transcripts (RNA-Seq), identifying point mutations (SNPs), inserting or deleting DNA fragments, etc.