Amplicon Sequencing: Understanding Microbial Diversity

Amplicon sequencing is a technique used in genetics to amplify and sequence specific DNA regions, enabling the identification of microbial communities in various samples.

Amplicon Sequencing FAQ

Image credit: jmf.univie.ac.at

What is amplicon sequencing?

The Takeaway: Advanced sequencing technologies have led the way in helping to revolutionize the genetics field over the past few years, and none has been more profound than amplicon sequencing. Amplicons are small segments of DNA that have been duplicated through a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

What are the advantages of amplicon sequencing?

Researchers can target their efforts and resources on the specific genetic information they need and can forgo the need to sequence an entire genome. High-throughput sequencing: Amplicon sequencing relies on high-throughput sequencing technologies that can rapidly sequence millions of DNA fragments at a time.

How do Microbiologists use amplicon sequencing?

Microbiologists routinely use amplicon sequencing with primers targeted to variable regions (V1–V9) within the highly conserved 16S rRNA gene in prokaryotes. By analyzing the amplicons produced in these regions, scientists can identify the bacteria or archaea present.

What are amplicons in PCR?

Amplicons are DNA fragments of a PCR reaction and the term is often used interchangeably with “PCR product”. By creating amplicons and thus increasing the number of copies or a certain DNA region of interest, you allow for higher signals during sequencing, which in turn allows for more confident sequencing results.