What is NextGen Sequencing

In brief, NextGen Sequencing is a method of sequence analysis that enables high-throughput sequencing at relatively low cost. For example, the price of sequencing a typical PCR fragment (say 500 to 900 bp) using traditional Sanger-based methods is somewhere between $5 and $10 yielding 500 to 900 bp of sequence. Let's say $0.01/bp. On our last Illumina/Solexa run we obtained 15 million reads of average size 80 bp for a cost of approximately $2000. That works out to about $0.0000017/bp or 6,000 x cheaper than Sanger!

To see how the Illumina platform works check out this Illumina video

So how does this change the way we do science? That's next.

NextGen Sequencing Changing the Face of Plant Biology

Until the late 80's, maize was the model of choice for plant genetics. There was a rich history of genetics, several mutants were readily available and it was easy to generate hundreds of progeny with a simple genetic cross. That all changed when Ken Feldmann and colleagues developed a seed transformation protocol for Arabidopsis thaliana that ushered in a new age of plant genetics. A technological innovation, vacuum-infiltration of Arabidopsis flowers (Bechtold et al. 1993 In planta Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer by infiltration of adult Arabidopsis thaliana plants. C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Life Sciences, 316, 1194-1199) , later set the stage for high throughput transformation of A.thaliana and established A. thaliana as THE model system for plant genetics. Today, Next Generation sequencing technology is doing the same to transform the way we approach plant genetics.

Over the next few days, I will be discussing reasons why some of the recent advances in plant genome sequencing technology will change the way we do plant science and biology in general.