What is whole exome sequencing?

Whole exome sequencing (WES) is a next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique that involves sequencing only the exonic or coding regions of an individual’s genome. It provides comprehensive coverage of coding regions and produces smaller, more manageable data sets for easier and faster data analysis. Whole exome sequencing allows researchers to analyze the nucleotide sequence of the protein-coding regions of the genome. 

Coding regions make up only about 1 – 2% of an organism’s genome, which means WES targets only 1 – 2% of the complete DNA sequence. Despite this short target area, WES offers several advantages. It identifies variants across a wide range of applications and provides researchers with a faster and more cost-effective alternative to whole genome sequencing.