genomic sequencing

American  

[jee-nohm-ik see-kwuhns-ing] / dʒiˈnoʊm ɪk ˈsi kwəns ɪŋ /

noun

1. genome sequencing.

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genomic sequencing Scientific  

/ jə-nō′mĭk /

1. The sequencing of the entire genome of an organism.

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Closer Look

The technique that allows researchers to read and decipher the genetic information found in the DNA of anything from bacteria to plants to animals is called genomic sequencing. Once a tedious, painstaking process, today, thanks to new techniques and the advent of powerful computers, it has been sped up a hundredfold. Sequencing involves determining the order of bases, the nucleotide subunits (adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine, referred to by the letters A, G, C and T) found in DNA. (Humans have about 3 billion base pairs.) Three nucleotides in a row specify one kind of amino acid, and a gene is defined by a long string of these triplets. There are various techniques to read the sequence of these “letters” in genes and genomes. So-called shotgun sequencing was used to help decode the human genome. Using this method, the DNA to be sequenced is first broken apart with enzymes, since gene-sequencing machines can only handle small stretches of DNA at a time. Once these random fragments are sequenced, powerful supercomputers compare overlapping sections and recreate the original, long strand. By decoding genomes and sequencing genes, researchers are beginning to understand how those strings of letters work together to create a living organism.

Example Sentences

Palacios is involved in a genomic sequencing of the virus, and so far it looks similar to previous versions.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

Twenty-four hours after Virun died, the Pasteur lab uploaded genomic sequencing of the virus that had killed him to databases accessible to scientists worldwide.

From Seattle Times • May 26, 2024

“But the authors have done a spectacular job of using state of the art tools, combining genomic sequencing, the fossil record, and estimates of flowering plant biodiversity, in a single framework.”

From Science Magazine • Apr. 23, 2024

However, estate agent Avison Young said the facility provided an opportunity for businesses to "fill supply gaps" in the life sciences sector, in areas such as precision medicine, diagnostic testing or genomic sequencing.

From BBC • Nov. 9, 2023

This is one of the first trials in neuro-oncology to require tumor genomic sequencing up-front for all patients, which helps researchers learn more about how genetic biomarkers influence responses.

From Science Daily • Sep. 18, 2023