What is next-generation sequencing (NGS)?

Next-generation sequencing, which is also known as high-throughput sequencing, is the processing of millions of DNA fragments in parallel, and can be used to sequence a whole genome. When working with a large number of targets, next-generation sequencing is generally more cost effective and produces faster results compared to Sanger sequencing, which sequences one fragment at a time.

The steps involved in next-generation sequencing are the preparation of a library (during which adaptors are attached), amplification using PCR, and finally sequencing. This sequencing can be done on a few different platforms, such as the Ion Torrent and Illumina’s MiSeq and NextSeq.