What are the main types of sequencing technologies used in cancer research?
There are several sequencing technologies widely used in cancer research:
- Sanger Sequencing: The first-generation sequencing method, primarily used for smaller-scale projects and validation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) results. - Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS): This includes platforms like Illumina, Ion Torrent, and PacBio, which allow for high-throughput sequencing of large genomic regions or entire genomes. - Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS): Provides a comprehensive view of the entire genome, identifying all possible mutations. - Whole Exome Sequencing (WES): Focuses on the exome, the protein-coding regions of the genome, where most disease-related mutations occur. - RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq): Analyzes the transcriptome to understand gene expression changes and identify fusion genes, splicing variants, and non-coding RNAs involved in cancer.
