Explanatory chapter: next generation sequencing

Technological breakthroughs in sequencing technologies have driven the advancement of molecular biology and molecular genetics research. The advent of high-throughput Sanger sequencing (for information on the method, see Sanger Dideoxy Sequencing of DNA) in the mid- to late-1990s made possible the accelerated completion of the human genome project, which has since revolutionized the pace of discovery in biomedical research. Similarly, the advent of next generation sequencing is poised to revolutionize biomedical research and usher a new era of individualized, rational medicine. The term next generation sequencing refers to technologies that have enabled the massively parallel analysis of DNA sequence facilitated through the convergence of advancements in molecular biology, nucleic acid chemistry and biochemistry, computational biology, and electrical and mechanical engineering. The current next generation sequencing technologies are capable of sequencing tens to hundreds of millions of DNA templates simultaneously and generate >4 gigabases of sequence in a single day. These technologies have largely started to replace high-throughput Sanger sequencing for large-scale genomic projects, and have created significant enthusiasm for the advent of a new era of individualized medicine.