PROJECT RESOURCES / BIO-DREAM
Sanger, NGS or long-read?
A starting point for a project discussion, not a substitute for sample-specific assessment.
Start with the question you need to answer
| Research question | Method to discuss | Key project details |
|---|---|---|
| One defined sequence region | Sanger | Template quality, primer and direction |
| Complete plasmid construct | Whole-plasmid long-read | Plasmid size, purity and required comparison |
| Many genomic targets or samples | Short-read NGS | Reference, depth, library and analysis |
| Expression between study groups | RNA-seq | Replicates, RNA quality and library selection |
| Microbial community research | Marker or shotgun sequencing | Biological question, bias and database |
Avoid comparing quotations on price alone
- A sample is not always a sequencing reaction. Check both counts.
- Reads and read pairs are different counting units. State the read layout.
- Raw output, clean output and mapped output are different acceptance measures.
- Sequence files, assembly, annotation and biological interpretation are separate deliverables.
- Confirm whether QC, library preparation, analysis and repeat policies are included.
A simple coverage example
Illustration only: 30 Gb of usable sequence divided by a 1 Gb genome gives a nominal 30× average. It does not guarantee uniform coverage or 30× mapped depth after filtering.
Discuss the right approach