PacBio is hitting the pavement this weekend for the Seq It Forward 5K + Fun Run, backing San Diego LabRats and hands-on STEM education. Science starts young, and this event helps more kids get in the lab asking big questions.
Every scientist was once a kid wondering: Why do some things glow? How do traits get passed down? What makes a computer “think”? Those early questions lead to breakthroughs—including the tech behind PacBio HiFi sequencing today.
Genetics, bioinformatics, physics—it all connects. The concepts we learn as kids power the science we rely on now. By supporting STEM education, we’re making sure the next wave of scientists has the tools to take discovery even further.
Want to join the science community in San Diego for a good cause? You can still register for the run:
Register for the San Diego 5k + Fun Run Benefitting STEM Education
The science behind PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing
Genetics is where it all begins—whether you first encountered it through a Punnett square in biology class or by wondering why you have your dad’s eyes but your mom’s height. At its core, DNA is just four bases—A, T, C, and G—strung together in a precise order that shapes everything from how cells function to how entire species evolve. Understanding that code is key to breakthroughs in human health, agriculture, and conservation.
That’s where PacBio HiFi sequencing comes in. Traditional short-read sequencing technology scratches the surface, but HiFi long-read sequencing is uniquely suited to phasing haplotypes, providing the high accuracy needed to detect variants and the read length to connect these variants over a long range. This level of detail helps researchers uncover variations that influence disease, improve crop resilience, and protect biodiversity.
Phasing a human genome involves separating maternally and paternally inherited copies of each chromosome into haplotypes to get a complete picture of genetic variation.
Beyond classical inheritance patterns, genome sequencing also helps scientists study epigenetics, changes that don’t alter the DNA sequence itself but still influence traits, development, and disease. Think of it like a set of instructions: same words, different emphasis. The ability of HiFi sequencing to detect epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility adds another dimension to our understanding of genetic regulation and disease.
Science is all about asking the right questions and having the right tools to get answers. The same curiosity that drives kids in STEM programs today is what powers the discoveries of tomorrow. That’s why we’re running this weekend—to support the next generation of scientists who will take genomics even further.
But discovery doesn’t just happen at the big-picture level. It comes down to the details—right down to the molecular interactions that make things like HiFi sequencing possible.
The biochemical bonds that make HiFi sequencing possible
PacBio sequencing depends on the chemistry of how nucleotides pair through chemical bonds. HiFi sequencing relies on a DNA polymerase, an enzyme that naturally copies DNA. During sequencing, this polymerase copies a template molecule, incorporating fluorescently labeled nucleotides (A, T, C, or G), which emit a light signal that allows the system to determine the DNA sequence. These precise biochemical interactions, guided by the same principles learned in chemistry class, are what make HiFi sequencing so accurate and powerful.
HiFi sequencing uses fluorescent light signals to identify DNA bases. As a polymerase enzyme adds new nucleotide bases to a newly replicated strand, it emits tiny flashes of light and is recorded as the correct base in the sequence. Learn more about how this process works here.
The optics of real-time sequencing
Physics, particularly optics, the study of the behavior and transmission of light, also play a big role in HiFi sequencing. As a DNA polymerase adds each fluorescently labeled base (A, T, C, or G), it gives off a tiny pulse of light. A specialized camera captures these flashes, converting them into sequencing data—one base at a time, with single-nucleotide precision. This direct detection eliminates errors that can creep in during amplification steps, making HiFi sequencing exceptionally accurate.
The principles of optics also help filter out the noise. Advanced optical systems fine-tune sensitivity, ensuring the system picks up the right signals while ignoring background interference. The result? Cleaner, more reliable data that helps researchers detect even the smallest genetic changes.
The engineering behind the SMRT Cell
Nanofabrication, the engineering of exceptionally small materials, is also crucial to HiFi technology because it constructs the surfaces where these biochemical and optical reactions take place.
The SMRT Cell, PacBio’s key sequencing consumable, is packed with millions of tiny wells, each capable of capturing and sequencing a single DNA molecule. These microfabricated wells, engineered carefully at the nanometer scale, allow sequencing to occur at the single-molecule level. By miniaturizing sequencing reactions, PacBio can deliver high throughput while maintaining exceptional accuracy—essential for large-scale genomic studies. As nanofabrication technology evolves, HiFi sequencing keeps getting faster, more efficient, and more accessible.
Turning data into discovery
Sequencing is just the start. The real challenge? Making sense of billions of DNA bases. That’s where bioinformatics comes in.
PacBio computational tools transform raw sequencing data into meaningful insights—whether identifying genetic variants, assembling complete genomes, or studying complex microbial communities. Bioinformatics blends computer science, statistics, and biology to decode genetic information at scale. And with AI and machine learning in the mix, the process is getting even smarter. These advanced algorithms help researchers extract deeper insights from HiFi sequencing data—whether they’re studying rare diseases, agriculture, or environmental genomics.
Fostering STEM education to drive future discoveries
Genetics, biochemistry, physics, engineering, bioinformatics—it all comes together in HiFi sequencing. You don’t have to be an expert in all of them to get powerful insights. PacBio systems are built to handle the complexity so researchers can focus on solving big biological questions.
That’s why STEM education matters. The next big discovery—the one that changes how we understand health, agriculture, or the environment—could start in a classroom today. By fostering curiosity in young scientists, we’re investing in the future.
Join us this weekend for the Seq It Forward 5K + Fun Run!