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. 2017 Apr 19;11(3):87–98. doi: 10.1049/iet-syb.2016.0016

Table 1a.

Summary of Omics Omics technologies can be largely classified into four categories based on subjects to be analysed: genomic sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, proteome profiling, and interactome profiling. The principle and distinct feature of each technology are here

Technology Principle Features
Genome sequencing
pyrosequencing (e.g. GS FLX Titanium XLR70) SBS: detection of released PPi during DNA synthesis •Elimination of the use of cloning vectors and library construction
•Maximum 500 read length
illumina sequencing (e.g. HiSeq 2500) SBS: detection of fluorescent signal that is emitted by each base during DNA synthesis •Short read assembly
•High computation needs
•Maximum 250 read length
ion semiconductor sequencing (e.g. Ion torrent) SBS: detection of released protons (H+) during DNA synthesis •Removal of optical measurement
•Maximum 400 read length
SMRT sequencing (e.g. PacBio RS II: P6‐C4) SBS: detection of fluorescent signal that is emitted when base‐paired with immobilised DNA by zero‐mode waveguides (ZMWs) •Long and highly accurate DNA sequences
•Single molecule sequencing (does not need of amplification steps)
•Provision of epigenetic information through identification of methylated base pairs
•Maximum 50 kb read length
nanopore sequencing (e.g. MiniON device from Oxford) sequencing by translocation: detection of electrical conductivity changes as DNA bases pass through the nanopore (transmembrane protein channels) •Removal of optical measurement
•Single molecule sequencing (does not need of amplification steps)
•Provision of epigenetic information through identification of methylated base pairs
•Maximum 48 kb read length
Transcriptome sequencing
RNA‐Seq SBS: Sequencing of the cDNA reverse transcribed from RNA •High potential for biased results depending on GC content, transcription length, position relative to RNA termini, and priming sequence bias
•Needs normalisation of raw data
GRO‐Seq SBS: Capturing and SBS of RNA transcript being synthesised tagged with bromouridine enables to identify genes being transcribed at certain time. •Useful for investigation of the genes that are transcribed at a certain time
•High potential for biased results depending on GC content, transcription length, position relative to RNA termini, and priming sequence bias
•Needs normalisation (through RPKM, FPKM, TPM, spike‐in controls) of raw data to deal with bias
•Requirement for incubation procedure
STARR‐Seq identification of enhancer sequences by making each fragmented DNA self‐transcribe and measuring the amount of the resultant transcribed RNA •99% detection rate by using pair‐end sequencing
•Does not depend on position effects by random genomic integration
ribosome profiling capturing global snapshot of transcriptome at a specific time using ribosome foot print and NGS Capacity to identify
•the location of translation start sites
•the complement of translated ORFs in a cell or tissue
•the distribution of ribosomes on a messenger RNA
•the speed of translating ribosomes