Nanopore Sequencing
Nanopore sequencing is a third-generation DNA/RNA sequencing technology that analyzes nucleic acids by passing them through nanoscale pores in a membrane, detecting changes in electrical current as each nucleotide passes through. It enables real-time, long-read sequencing without the need for amplification or fluorescent labeling, making it suitable for applications like genome assembly, metagenomics, and direct RNA sequencing. This technology is known for its portability and ability to sequence long fragments, often exceeding 100 kilobases.
Developers should learn nanopore sequencing when working in bioinformatics, genomics, or biotechnology fields, as it is essential for analyzing complex genomes, detecting structural variants, and performing real-time pathogen surveillance. It is particularly valuable for use cases requiring long-read data, such as de novo genome assembly, epigenetic modification detection, and in-field diagnostics, where its portability and rapid turnaround times are advantageous.