Figure 3.

How we are getting there: a subway map of sequencing technology. Despite the disparate goals of different sequencing experiments, the great variety of sequencing experiments is a result of distinct combinations of a relatively small set of core techniques, which are represented as open circles or ‘stations’. Like subway lines, individual sequencing experiments move from station to station, until they ultimately arrive at a common terminal: DNA sequencing. For example, the initial demonstration of Hi-C⁷¹ was a comparative experiment that progressed through cell culture, cross-linking, proximity ligation, mechanical shearing, affinity purification, adaptor ligation and PCR amplification, before finally arriving at sequencing. Other examples shown correspond to sequencing applications in Table 1. For visual clarity, not all stations and routes are shown. New routes are being added regularly. TRAP, translating ribosome affinity purification.