What are the differences between whole exome sequencing and RN sequencing?
Posted October 2, 2024
Basis of differentiation |
Whole exome sequencing |
RN sequencing |
Definition |
Is a type of sequencing that sequences the DNA coding regions (exons) of the genome |
Is a type of sequencing that sequences RNA after conversion to cDNA, focusing on gene expression |
Genomic coverage |
Focuses on the exons, which represent about 1-2% of the genome |
Covers the transcriptome, including exons, introns, and regions related to gene expression |
Data output |
Provides data on DNA mutations and variations |
Provides data on gene expression levels and can detect irregular gene expression patterns |
Primary use |
To identify mutations in coding DNA that may lead to genetic disorders or cancer |
To study gene expression levels, revealing which genes are active in a tissue or cell type |
Expression levels |
Does not measure gene expression levels |
Measures gene expression profiles, reflecting gene activity and providing insight into gene regulation |
Genomic reference |
Requires a known reference genome to target specific exonic regions |
Less dependent on a reference genome – can be used with uncharacterized genomes |
Tissue-specific information |
Does not provide tissue specific gene expression data |
Provides tissue-specific or cell-specific gene expression data, aiding in understanding disease mechanisms |
Variation detection |
Primarily used for detective genetic variants with a focus on exons |
Can detect variants but with lower confidence due to uneven transcript coverage |
Cost and efficiency |
More cost-effective and less time-consuming |
Less cost-effective and more time-consuming as it requires more depth and coverage |
Applications |
Best suited for detecting disease-causing DNA mutations in exons |
Useful for studying gene expression profiles and discovering novel biomarkers |