What are Next Generation Sequencing and High Throughput Screening

One of the most important scientific breakthroughs of our age is that of the method to decipher DNA sequences. All branches of biological research can greatly benefit from the ability to read genetic information from biological systems. Sanger sequencing was the method adopted in laboratories around the world, but it has several limitations in scalability, resolution, throughput and speed. Next Generation Sequencing is what offers solutions to overcome these limitations. This new method extends the process used earlier across several millions of reactions in parallel. This is essential what offers a faster way to read the data.

The data output offered by NGS has increased to a great extent, more than doubling each year. he older technology required around 10 years in order to sequence a single human genome but with high throughput screening, scientists can sequence five genomes in one single run and can produce data in just a week or maybe a little more. The costs involved are also greatly reduced by the new technology. Before NGS was invented, the first human genome study had a cost of 3 billion USD. Today, a reagent cost of $5,000 is sufficient for one genome.

This technology is also highly scalable and offers the ability to process both small and large numbers of samples as per the requirement of the study. There is also a great flexibility in terms of the resolution required. This means that we can zoom in on a genome to get a detailed view or zoom out to look at an expansive view.

Drug Discovery Technology – Target Identification and Validation

Pharmaceuticals and healthcare are two fields that have been receiving attention past several years. With technological breakthroughs in fields like biotechnology, computational chemistry, molecular modeling and genomics, the area of drug discovery promises reductions in costs as well as the times involved to bring the drugs into the market.

Drug discovery technology has evolved greatly over the years and today, seeks to develop new models which significantly reduce the costs involved. In the past, most of the drug discovery procedures were based on screening products derived from plants and microorganisms. This process still continues today but with much better efficiency, thanks to the new drug discovery technology.

Today, chemists and biologists work together to fully understand the mechanisms of a disease before synthesizing potential drug candidates. Molecular modeling makes it possible to study the structure and properties of molecules in a sample with the help of computer programs. The data hence obtained is analyzed to predict the structure of a possible drug candidate. This is known as target identification. Once such potential drug candidates are obtained, target validation is take up, which aims to prove that the target is appropriate for the development of new drugs.

Both of these processes need to be done with utmost care and accuracy in order to discover new and effective drugs which are affordable. High Content Screening is one technology that has made the process of drug discovery much faster producing accurate results. Automation of this process also makes is highly cost-effective.