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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
08:05
Guided Protocol for Fecal Microbial Characterization by 16S rRNA-Amplicon Sequencing
Published on: March 19, 2018
Advanced sequencing technologies and their wider impact in microbiology
1School of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK. neilhall@liv.ac.uk
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|April 24, 2007
Summary
High-throughput DNA sequencing has revolutionized microbiology, making gene sequencing faster and more accessible. New bench-top technologies are enabling research labs to explore microbial diversity and genetic variation routinely.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Microbiology has been transformed by affordable, high-throughput DNA sequencing over the last decade.
- Historically, gene cloning and sequencing were time-consuming, but now public genome databases offer rapid access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the revolution in DNA sequencing technologies impacting microbiology.
- To discuss the shift towards high-throughput sequencing in research labs and its implications.
Main Methods:
- Review of advancements in DNA sequencing technologies, focusing on industrialization of Sanger sequencing.
- Discussion of emerging bench-top instrumentation for high-throughput genome sequencing.
Main Results:
- Rapid gene sequencing is now possible via internet searches of public genome databases.
- New technologies facilitate exploration of microbial diversity and bacterial genetic variation.
Conclusions:
- High-throughput sequencing is moving from large genome centers to individual research labs.
- These advancements will enable routine hypothesis testing and deeper genomic investigation in microbiology and beyond.
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