Sequencing 101
A beginner's guide to long-read sequencing. Follow along to learn about our technology and uncover tips on how to get started.
Featured article
Sequencing 101: From DNA to Discovery – The Steps of SMRT Sequencing
Starting a sequencing project can be daunting. First of all, there are several types of sequencing technologies, each based on unique processes. At PacBio, we use a technology called Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing.
Sequencing 101: How does whole genome sequencing help us understand rare diseases?
Rare diseases are defined as diseases that affect a small number of people — fewer than 1 in 2,000 in the European Union and fewer than 200,000 total people (about…
Sequencing 101: DNA extraction — tips, kits, and protocols
If you are like most of us at PacBio, you likely learned how to extract DNA in a high school or college biology class, or maybe even in your kitchen….
Genomes vs genNNNes: the difference between contigs and scaffolds in genome assemblies
This blog post has been updated. It was originally published September, 2016. In recent interactions with the scientific community, we’ve seen a growing number of questions around scaffolding genome assemblies….
Sequencing 101: ploidy, haplotypes, and phasing — how to get more from your sequencing data
Geneticists often point out that a human does not have “a” genome but rather two genomes: one inherited from the mother and another from the father. The number of complete…
Sequencing 101: what’s the value of sequencing full-length RNA transcripts?
The study of genomics has revolutionized our understanding of science, but the field of transcriptomics grew with the need to explore the functional impacts of genetic variation. While different tissues…
Sequencing 101: from DNA to discovery — the steps of SMRT sequencing
Starting a sequencing project can be daunting. First of all, there are several types of sequencing technologies, each based on unique processes. At PacBio, we use a technology called Single…
Sequencing 101: understanding accuracy in DNA sequencing
For scientists who utilize DNA sequencing in their research but are not experts in the underlying technology, it can be difficult to determine the accuracy of sequencing results — and…
Sequencing 101: looking beyond the single reference genome to a pangenome for every species
What is a pangenome? Unless you have an identical twin, no other person has a genome that is identical to yours. The same is true for other animal, plant, and…
Sequencing 101: why are long reads important for studying viral genomes?
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a sudden urgency to virus research and led many of us to dig more deeply into all the tools available for characterizing viral genomes, from…
Sequencing 101: video introduction to PacBio sequencing and the Sequel II system
We’re pleased to release a short video describing PacBio sequencing and our latest platform, the Sequel II system. If you’ve ever wondered how Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing works, what…
Sequencing 101: the evolution of DNA sequencing tools
Welcome to the Sequencing 101 blog series — where we will provide introductions to sequencing technology, genomics, and much more. If you’re not immersed in the field of DNA sequencing,…
Beyond contiguity — assessing the quality of genome assemblies with the 3 Cs
With high-throughput long-read sequencing, it is now affordable and routine to produce a de novo genome assembly for microbes, plants and animals. The quality of a reference genome impacts biological…
Introduction of the Iso-Seq method: state of the art for full-length transcriptome sequencing
In eukaryotic organisms, the majority of genes are alternatively spliced to produce multiple transcript isoforms. Gene regulation through alternative splicing can dramatically increase the protein-coding potential of a genome. Therefore,…