Tag: DNA sequencing

Protein sequencing remains a significant technological barrier in omics research

May 2, 2024

Since the advent of Sanger sequencing in the 1970s, DNA sequencing has revolutionized our understanding of the life sciences, and allowed us to glean new insights into the genetic underpinnings of many diseases and biological phenomena at the cellular level. But, there is relatively little traction in the area of protein sequencing. Currently, we still … More Protein sequencing remains a significant technological barrier in omics research

Read length of next generation short read sequencing is determined by the user

September 4, 2023

Next generation short read sequencing has dominated the sequencing landscape over the past 8 to 10 years, mainly due to important refinements in its methodology and technology that significantly improved read accuracy and cost per base. In general, across the next generation sequencing landscape, the cost per base of the technique is declining at different … More Read length of next generation short read sequencing is determined by the user

Plant genomes are more complex and larger than human genomes

October 7, 2020

Sequencing of human genome was a huge undertaking in its time and took approximately a decade. Progressive refinement in sequencing technologies and new innovations such as short-read sequencing followed by genome assembly have redefined whole genome sequencing. This has helped reduce the cost and time needed to sequence a full human genome. However, significant amount … More Plant genomes are more complex and larger than human genomes

Expert knowledge on pathways and discovery science approaches are dominant problem-solving methodologies in cancer research

December 2, 2019

Advent of sequencing methods that help elucidate the mutational signatures of cancer at the genome level help usher in the use of big data and discovery science approaches in cancer research that have helped identify hitherto unknown pathways and genes as implicated in cancer. Specifically, such DNA sequencing approaches identify mutated genes that could be … More Expert knowledge on pathways and discovery science approaches are dominant problem-solving methodologies in cancer research

Bottleneck in genomics lies in characterizing the functions of each gene

November 7, 2019

Declining cost of sequencing as well as the advent of next-generation and third-generation sequencing technologies have provided a platform for the cheap and easy access to genomic information for a wide variety of species. Such genomic information is the foundation upon which functional analysis of genome could be conducted. In the contemporary era, large numbers … More Bottleneck in genomics lies in characterizing the functions of each gene

DNA writers for encoding cellular signals into the genome

October 4, 2018

Myriad cellular signals are generated through various regulatory activities for processes in metabolism and signal transduction. But the challenge has been in understanding these cellular signal transduction events that have largely remained hidden from our view. Using DNA writing technologies, researchers have been able to encode some of these previously hidden intracellular messages and signals … More DNA writers for encoding cellular signals into the genome

Cancer organoids for tailoring cancer treatment

February 25, 2018

Miniature organs derived from cancer cells such as cancer organoids could potentially open a path forward for tailoring cancer drug use and treatment. Specifically, an important problem in cancer therapy lies in the inability to target and treat specific cancer subtypes recalcitrant to front-line chemotherapy drugs. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the resistance to commonly used … More Cancer organoids for tailoring cancer treatment

Field deployable DNA sequencers

October 5, 2017

Since its inception in the 1990s, multiple revolutions have occurred in the field of DNA sequencing, where successive iterations of the technology enabled more reliable and less error prone sequencing of increasingly larger segments of DNA from a variety of sources such as human, bacteria, fungi, viruses etc. Indeed, DNA sequencing technology has revolutionized biology … More Field deployable DNA sequencers

Transmissible cancer in marine bivalves: Implications for mode of transmission of cancer

February 11, 2017

With their rapid growth rate and need for nutrition, cancer cells move as they seek new niches for nutrients and space for colony expansion. Thus far, the most well studied invasive mechanism for cancer cells is metastasis, where a cancer cell from a primary tumour migrate, through the bloodstream, to a new site suitable for … More Transmissible cancer in marine bivalves: Implications for mode of transmission of cancer