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Whole genome sequencing

A more complete view of the genome to fuel research and discovery

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Whole genome sequencing

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) with PacBio HiFi sequencing delivers a more complete and accurate genome with long, single-molecule reads and 90% of bases at ≥Q30.

Contiguous and phased genome assemblies

The unique combination of length and accuracy enables HiFi reads to resolve difficult repeats, segmental duplications, and centromeres to produce more contiguous and phased assemblies.

Precision and recall for variant calling

HiFi reads also provide precisionFDA-winning accuracy for all variant types, especially in the most challenging parts of the human genome.

Methylation calling

HiFi sequencing also provides simultaneous 5mC detection in CpG contexts without any additional library preparation. This feature enables the resolution of methylation profiles with phased haplotyping and the ability to interrogate methylation abnormalities from a single sequencing experiment.

Whole genome sequencing — how PacBio compares

PacBio HiFi Illumina Oxford Nanopore
Average read length1
15–20 kb
2 x 150 bp 10–100 kb
Average read accuracy1
99.95% (Q33) 99.92% (Q31) 99.26% (Q21)
Coverage2
Unbiased Reduced at low and high [GC] Reduced in low-complexity runs
Variant calling: SNVs
Variant calling: indels
Variant calling: SVs
Genome assembly: contiguity
Genome assembly: accuracy
Epigenetics: 5mC

1. PacBio HiFi: HG003 18 kb library, Sequel II system chemistry 2.0, precisionFDA Truth Challenge V2 (https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.13.380741), Illumina: HG002 2×150 bp NovaSeq library, precisionFDA Truth Challenge V2 (https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.13.380741), ONT: Q20+ chemistry (R10.4, Kit 12), Oct 2021 GM24385 Q20+ Simplex Dataset Release (https://labs.epi2me.io/gm24385_q20_2021.10/)
2. HiFi+ONT: Nurk 2021 https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.05.26.445798, HiFi+Illumina: Logsdon 2020 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-020-0236-x, ONT: Tan 2022 https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.11.475254

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Human whole genome sequencing

Completely characterize human genomes to better understand the complexity of health and disease.

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Plant + animal whole genome sequencing

Plant + animal whole genome sequencing

Quickly and affordably produce contiguous, complete, and correct de novo assemblies of even the most complex genomes.

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Microbial whole genome sequencing

Achieve closed chromosomes and plasmids from even the most repeat-dense and GC-rich genomes.

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PacBio Compatible products

Maximize throughput by automating library prep with PacBio Compatible automation partners

PacBio Compatible     Qualified automation protocols

SHAPING THE FUTURE

In PrecisionFDA Challenge, PacBio Hifi reads outperform both short reads and noisy long reads

PacBio HiFi reads delivered the highest precision and recall in all categories: genome-wide, specifically in difficult-to-map regions, and in the major histocompatibility complex.

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Whole genome sequencing datasets

Application Dataset Download literature Technology Sequencing system
Variant detection, assembly, epigenetics Homo sapiens — GIAB trio HG002-4 N/A HiFi long read Revio system
Tumor/normal COLO829 melanoma N/A HiFi long read Revio system
Tumor/normal HCC1395 N/A HiFi long read Revio system
Whole genome sequencing Various plant & animals – mouse, ladybug, oak, mistletoe, and maize Plant + animal biology HiFi long read Revio system
Assembly Food safety & infectious microbes – 96 plex Microbial WGS HiFi long read Sequel IIe system

More datasets

Whole genome sequencing applications

Variant detection

From SNVs to structural rearrangements, highly accurate single-molecule long reads allow you to confidently catalog variants of all kinds.

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De novo sequencing

With HiFi reads up to 25 kb, you can efficiently and affordably generate de novo assemblies of even the most complex genomes.

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Genome structure

HiFi data delivers insights into genome structure that short-read technologies often miss. Generate long reads, even through highly repetitive regions of the genome.

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Epigenetics

HiFi sequencing equips you to capture epigenetic modifications during a normal sequencing run — no special chemistry or preparation required.

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Workflow

PacBio library prep workflow for long-read WGS

Library preparation for WGS is a simple 5-step process with a variety of mechanical DNA shearing and size selection options

 

PacBio WGS 5-step workflow diagram

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Best practice recommendations for preparing whole genome and metagenome libraries using SMRTbell prep kit 3.0 WGS

Procedure & checklist – Preparing whole genome and metagenome libraries using SMRTbell prep kit 3.0

SMRTbell prep kit 3.0 for WGS
Sample Human, plant + animals Microbial or metagenomic
DNA input per SMRT Cell per sample

≥ 2 µg

≥ 300 ng

DNA quality 90% of gDNA > 10 kb 90% of gDNA > 7 kb
SRE

Recommended1

No
Mean sheared DNA size 15 to 25 kb

7 to 12 kb2

Adapter indexes SMRTbell adapter index plate 96A SMRTbell adapter index plate 96A
Protocol automation Yes Yes
Manual preparation time

4.5 hours3

6 hours for 24 samples4

Size selection

> 4 kb, bead-based 
> 10 kb, gel-based

No
Methylation data included Yes (5mC)

Yes (4mC and 6mA)5

  1. SRE is recommended when using bead-based size selection and < 90% of the genomic DNA is > 10 kb.
  2. Larger size distributions for microbial isolates is possible if starting with HMW DNA and using 24- or 30-hour movie times
  3. Manual prep time is for up to 8 samples. Increasing the number of samples will increase manual prep time. Time is only for SMRTbell prep kit 3.0 steps and excludes the time for running QC steps such as the Agilent Femto Pulse.
  4. Manual time for SMRTbell prep kit 3.0 steps and excludes time for running QC steps. Greater than 24 samples will increase prep time.
  5. Base kinetic data must be saved for methylation calls as part of the Microbial Genome Analysis workflow in SMRT Link

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New low cost, high-throughput mechanical DNA shearing options for long-read sequencing workflows

Shearing your genomic DNA has never been easier. PacBio has developed new high throughput methods that are both cost-effective and fast to reduce bottlenecks and maximize your HiFi sequencing yields.

Lab Equipment Method Throughput per run Time per run Mode size ranges Consumable cost
Standard Megaruptor 3 Hydropore 8-12 samples 30-40 mins. 7-25 kb $$$
New Hamilton Microlab Prep High-speed pipette tip mixing 8-24 samples 22 mins. for 24 samples

15-22 kb1

$
New Hamilton NGS STAR/STARlet/STAR V High-speed pipette tip mixing 8-96 samples 8 mins. for 96 samples with MPH

15-22 kb1

$
New MP Biomedical FastPrep 96 Grinder and lysis system 1-192 samples

1 to 8 mins.2

7-20 kb3

$
New SPEX MiniG Grinder and lysis system 1-96 samples

1 to 8 mins.2

7-20 kb3

$

  1.    Mode shear size will be sample concentration dependent; the high-speed pipette tip mixing cannot shear down to sizes below 15 on average and therefore is only recommended for the WGS application for human, plant, and animal samples.
  2. Time will vary based on the desired shear size distribution. Longer times for smaller
  3. Mode shear size will depend on rpm and time used. Please see application and tech notes for additional guidance.

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PacBio qualified automation protocols for WGS library prep and polymerase binding

PacBio has partnered with NGS automation vendors to provide scalable automated library prep methods to meet your lab’s throughput needs. From single samples on the Integra Miro Canvas, to 96 samples on the Hamilton NGS STAR or STAR V systems. Each platform protocol has been qualified through the PacBio Compatible program to ensure quality and great sequencing performance.

Hamilton Integra Revvity Tecan
DNA shearing for WGS protocol
HiFi sequencing 15 to 22 kb

NGS STAR
STARlet
STAR V
Microlab Prep

DreamPrep Compact
WGS library prep protocol
SMRTbell prep kit 3.0 Miro Canvas SciClone NGSx DreamPrep Compact
Polymerase binding protocol
Seque II binding kit 3.2 DreamPrep Compact
Revio polymerase kit DreamPrep Compact

New automation protocols will be added as they become available via our PacBio Compatible partners. Please use our automation workflow selector tool to determine which of our PacBio Compatible automation solutions are best for your application.

Whole genome sequencing in action

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Scaling human whole genome sequencing for rare and inherited disease research

Find out how PacBio HiFi whole genome sequencing is being used in rare disease research.

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Bacterial genomes from the lakes of Minnesota to NYC hospitals

See how scientists are studying the ecophysiology of Minnesota microbes using long-read…

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Uncovering structural variants associated with rare disease

Discover how Alexander Hoischen’s research group is using long-read sequencing to find…

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EXPLORE

Did you know we have a comprehensive library of articles, reports, papers, and videos related to whole genome sequencing?

Explore resources

Whole genome sequencing workflow at a glance

Easy-to-use, high throughput sequencing for the accuracy you need at an affordable cost

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Straightforward library prep

Go from sample to sequencer in a single afternoon

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Complete + accurate sequencing

Obtain accurate, unbiased, and long reads

Directly detect epigenetic modifications

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Universal file types

Analyze data using any of the common genome assembly and analysis tools

Common questions about PacBio whole genome sequencing

HiFi reads provide the most comprehensive view of human genomes with the highest precision and recall for all variant types including variants missed by short-read sequencing: small variants in difficult-to-map regions of the genome and structural variants genome-wide. HiFi reads also phase variants into maternal and paternal haplotypes.

Yes, HiFi sequencing is able to simultaneously determine the identity and methylation status of individual bases in a DNA molecule. The methylation calling relies on kinetic properties (pulse width and interpulse duration) of the sequencing polymerase. A statistical model processes the kinetic information to infer methylation status.

Talk with an expert

If you have a question, need to check the status of an order, or are interested in purchasing an instrument, we're here to help.