Biomolecules (May 2024)

The Third-Generation Sequencing Challenge: Novel Insights for the Omic Sciences

  • Carmela Scarano,
  • Iolanda Veneruso,
  • Rosa Redenta De Simone,
  • Gennaro Di Bonito,
  • Angela Secondino,
  • Valeria D’Argenio

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050568
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 5
p. 568

Abstract

Read online

The understanding of the human genome has been greatly improved by the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies (NGS). Despite the undeniable advantages responsible for their widespread diffusion, these methods have some constraints, mainly related to short read length and the need for PCR amplification. As a consequence, long-read sequencers, called third-generation sequencing (TGS), have been developed, promising to overcome NGS. Starting from the first prototype, TGS has progressively ameliorated its chemistries by improving both read length and base-calling accuracy, as well as simultaneously reducing the costs/base. Based on these premises, TGS is showing its potential in many fields, including the analysis of difficult-to-sequence genomic regions, structural variations detection, RNA expression profiling, DNA methylation study, and metagenomic analyses. Protocol standardization and the development of easy-to-use pipelines for data analysis will enhance TGS use, also opening the way for their routine applications in diagnostic contexts.

Keywords