What is whole genome sequencing ?
The genome, or genetic material, of an organism (bacteria, virus, potato, human) is made up of DNA. Each organism has a unique DNA sequence which is composed of bases . If you know the sequence of the bases in an organism, you have identified its unique DNA fingerprint, or pattern. Determining the order of bases is called sequencing. Whole genome sequencing is a laboratory procedure that determines the order of bases in the genome of an organism in one process.How does whole genome sequencing work?
Scientists conduct whole genome sequencing by following these four main steps:
1.DNA shearing: Scientists begin by using molecular scissors to cut the DNA, which is composed of millions of bases: A’s, C’s, T’s and G’s, into pieces that are small enough for the sequencing machine to read.
2.DNA bar-coding: Scientists add small pieces of DNA tags, or bar codes, to identify which piece of sheared DNA belongs to which bacteria. This is similar to how a bar code identifies a product at a grocery store.
3.Whole genome sequencing: The bar-coded DNA from multiple bacteria are combined and put in the whole genome sequencer. The sequencer identifies the A’s, C’s, T’s, and G’s, or bases, that make up each bacterial sequence. The sequencer uses the bar code to keep track of which bases belong to which bacteria.
4.Data analysis: Scientists use computer analysis tools to compare bacterial sequences and identify differences. The number of differences can tell the scientists how closely related the bacteria are, and how likely it is that they are part of the same outbreak.
How will whole genome sequencing transform disease detection?
Whole genome sequencing provides more detailed and precise data for identifying outbreaks than the current standard technique that PulseNet uses, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Instead of only having the ability to compare bacterial genomes using 15-30 bands that appear in a PFGE pattern, we now have millions of bases to compare. That is like comparing all of the words in a book (WGS), instead of just the number of chapters (PFGE), to see if the books are the same or different. Using whole genome sequencing, we have found that some bacteria that appeared to be different using PFGE are actually from the same source. This has helped solve some outbreaks sooner.
Whole genome sequencing is a fast and affordable way to obtain high-level information about the bacteria using just one test. Currently, the process to fully characterize bacteria requires two or more scientists to perform four or more separate tests including PFGE. WGS will greatly improve the efficiency of how PulseNet conducts surveillance.
Ascend DNA Extraction Kit is designed for the rapid, high-throughput purification of RNA and DNA from a variety of samples (grinding supernatant of animal and plant tissues, whole blood, serum, plasma, cell culture supernatant, oral pharyngeal swabs, body fluids, genital secretions, bacteria and viruses, etc.), used for molecular biology experiments such as PCR/RT-PCR, Real-time PCR/Real-time RT-PCR.
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