Title:
What is “Next-Generation DNA Sequencing” for?

Osamu Ohara
Department of Technology Development, Kazusa DNA Research Institute: Laboratory for Integrative Genomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences.

Abstract:
DNA sequencing technology has played a central role in molecular biology because genetic information is solely encoded by DNA sequence. One of its ultimate goals is complete determination of entire genome sequence of an organism of interest. In this regard, completion of human genome sequencing at the beginning of 21st century is a real milestone of DNA sequencing technology. However, from a historical viewpoint, it is interesting to note that it took more than 20 years to emerge DNA sequencing methods after proposal of the structure of DNA as a double helix in 1953. Aided by concurrent development of recombinant DNA technology and polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing technology has advanced without breaking pace in the past 30 years. However, the basic principle of DNA technology is almost unchanged until very recently while the throughput is greatly improved by emergence of automated fluorescence DNA sequencers: The conventional DNA sequencing depends on size separation of DNA at the single-nucleotide resolution, which practically determines the lower limit of cost and time required for DNA sequencing. Emergence of the idea of massively parallel sequencing now makes all the difference from the conventional DNA sequencing and we frequently call this new sequencing method as “Next-generation DNA Sequencing” although it is somewhat paradoxical that “Next-Generation DNA Sequencing” is already in reality.
In my talk, I would like to first give a brief review of history of DNA sequencing and then explain the current situation of DNA sequencing technologies on the basis of my 30-year experience in this field. Together with genomics applications, other recent applications of “Next-Generation DNA Sequencing” will be also described. If time allows, I would like to raise an issue as to how to apply the “Next-Generation DNA Sequencing” in the clinical settings in the final part of my talk,