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Related Concept Videos

Next-generation Sequencing03:00

Next-generation Sequencing

The first human genome sequencing project cost $2.7 billion and was declared complete in 2003, after 15 years of international cooperation and collaboration between several research teams and funding agencies. Today, with the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies, the cost and time of sequencing a human genome have dropped over 100 fold.
Next-Generation Sequencing Methods
Although all next-generation methods use different technologies, they all share a set of standard features.
Multi-species Conserved Sequences02:51

Multi-species Conserved Sequences

Next-generation sequencing technologies have created large genomic databases of a variety of animals and plants. Ever since the human genome project was completed, scientists studied the genome of primates, mammals, and other phylogenetically distant living beings. Such large-scale  studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary relationship between organisms.
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Sanger Sequencing01:57

Sanger Sequencing

DNA sequencing is a fundamental technique that is routinely used in the biological sciences. This method can be applied to a range of questions at different scales - from the sequencing of a cloned DNA fragment or the study of a mutation in a gene up to whole-genome sequencing. However, despite the widespread use of sequencing today, it was not until 1977 that Fredrick Sanger and his collaborators developed the chain-termination method to decode DNA sequences. It relies on the separation of a...
The Fossil Record02:56

The Fossil Record

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Genomic DNA in Eukaryotes00:58

Genomic DNA in Eukaryotes

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Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing01:05

Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Primer Extension Capture: Targeted Sequence Retrieval from Heavily Degraded DNA Sources
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Primer Extension Capture: Targeted Sequence Retrieval from Heavily Degraded DNA Sources

Published on: September 3, 2009

A high-coverage genome sequence from an archaic Denisovan individual.

Matthias Meyer1, Martin Kircher, Marie-Theres Gansauge

  • 1Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. mmeyer@eva.mpg.de

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 1, 2012
PubMed
Summary

We reconstructed a high-quality Denisovan genome, revealing extremely low genetic diversity in these extinct humans. This breakthrough allows detailed analysis of Denisovan admixture and genetic changes in modern humans.

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G2-seq: A High Throughput Sequencing-based Technique for Identifying Late Replicating Regions of the Genome

Published on: March 22, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Paleogenomics
  • Human Evolution

Background:

  • Denisovans are an extinct hominin group, closely related to Neandertals.
  • Limited ancient DNA data has hindered comprehensive understanding of Denisovan biology and population genetics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reconstruct a high-coverage genome sequence of a Denisovan using a novel DNA library preparation method.
  • To analyze Denisovan genetic diversity, admixture with modern humans, and evolutionary divergence.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a new DNA library preparation technique for ancient DNA.
  • High-coverage (30×) genome sequencing of Denisovan remains.
  • Bioinformatic analysis for heterozygosity estimation, admixture mapping, and evolutionary comparisons.

Main Results:

  • A high-quality Denisovan genome sequence was successfully reconstructed.
  • Denisovan genetic diversity was estimated to be extremely low.
  • Detailed measurements of Denisovan and Neandertal admixture into contemporary human populations were obtained.
  • A catalog of genetic changes in modern humans since divergence from Denisovans was generated.

Conclusions:

  • The reconstructed Denisovan genome provides unprecedented insights into their biology and evolutionary history.
  • Extremely low genetic diversity suggests a potential bottleneck or small population size in Denisovans.
  • Admixture analysis clarifies the contribution of archaic hominins to modern human genetic variation.