DNA sequencing used to cost millions and take years. Now? A complete genome takes days. The machines read human genes, bacterial chromosomes, plant DNA, and animal genomes. Same technology. Different goals.
Comparing Human and Non-Human Sequencing Offerings
When your doctor orders whole-genome sequencing, they’re looking for answers. Maybe you have symptoms no one can explain. Maybe your cancer needs a treatment plan. WGS reads all 3 billion letters in your genetic code. It finds mutations that cause disease and guides medical decisions.
Laboratories offering human WGS face strict regulations. They need clinical certifications and must protect patient privacy. The data analysis pipelines focus on known disease genes and compare results against large databases of human variation.
Non-Human Genome Sequencing Use Cases
Bacteria have small genomes. You can sequence one in hours. Microbiologists do this to track outbreaks. Hospitals watch for antibiotic-resistant strains. Plant scientists face bigger challenges. They breed crops that tolerate drought using next generation sequencing. They want plants that feed more people. Animal researchers map genomes to save endangered species and understand how evolution works.
Each type of project brings unique headaches. Bacterial genomes are small and straightforward. Plant genomes can be enormous. They’re packed with repetitive DNA that makes assembly difficult. Animal genomes fall somewhere in between, but their size and structure vary wildly from species to species.
The sample preparation differs too. Human samples come from blood or saliva. Bacterial samples require culture growth. Plant samples need special extraction methods to remove interfering compounds. Each sample type demands specific handling protocols.
How Eurofins Genomics Makes NGS Seamless
The Complete Workflow
The workflow starts with sample preparation. You send your DNA or let the lab extract it from your raw material. Quality matters here. Poor samples produce poor data.
Library creation comes next. Technicians fragment your DNA and attach special adapters. These adapters let the fragments bind to the sequencing instrument. The library quality determines how well the sequencing runs.
Sequencing itself happens on high-throughput instruments. Illumina platforms dominate the market. They read millions of DNA fragments at once. The machines generate massive data files in hours.
Data Analysis and Delivery
Data analysis demands expertise. Raw sequence reads need quality filtering. Then computers assemble the fragments into longer sequences. For human genomes, this means aligning reads to a reference genome. For novel organisms, you build the genome from scratch.
Eurofins Genomics handles this entire pipeline. Their labs process samples from all organism types. They maintain equipment for different sequencing depths and applications. You get clean data files ready for interpretation.
Their strength lies in integration. Sample prep experts work with sequencing specialists and bioinformaticians. This coordination catches problems early. If your library quality looks low, they fix it before wasting expensive sequencing runs.
Flexibility and Speed
The company serves both research and clinical markets. They understand regulatory requirements for human samples. They also handle exotic organisms with unusual DNA properties.
Turnaround time depends on your project scope. Small bacterial genomes sequence quickly. Large plant genomes take longer. Human clinical samples follow strict timelines.
You can access different sequencing depths. Shallow sequencing works for some microbial studies. Deep sequencing reveals rare variants in human genes. The lab adjusts protocols based on your needs.
The field keeps advancing. Costs drop while accuracy improves. What took years now takes days. This speed lets you answer questions that were impractical before.