Next-generation sequencing of nucleic acids: technology and applications

Next generation sequencing technology

Abstract

The demand for sequencing of large biomolecules essential for all forms of life, nucleic acids, is constantly increasing, and has led to technological advancements in present day biotechnology, medicine and life sciences. In the last decade, $3BN was spent to sequence the first human genome using Sanger’s chain termination method and since then the demand for more economical, scalable, and accessible methods of genome and transcriptome sequencing gained more magnitude.  Next generation sequencing (NGS) refers to massive parallel method of sequencing nucleic acids, and its applications in modern day biology are limitless. In the present review, we aim to elucidate diverse NGS technologies presently available in the market and their wide applications and limitations and to provide a broad comparison of technologies.