What is the Difference Between NGS and WGS?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) lies in the technology used and the scope of the sequencing process. Here are the key differences between the two:
- Technology: NGS is a massively parallel second-generation sequencing technology that is high throughput, low cost, and speedy. WGS, on the other hand, is a comprehensive method of analyzing the entire genomic DNA of a cell at a single time, using either a shotgun approach or high-throughput NGS sequencing.
- Scope: NGS can be applied in various areas, including de novo genome sequencing, whole-genome resequencing, transcriptome analysis, targeted resequencing, small RNA and miRNA sequencing, and whole exome sequencing. WGS is a specific approach within NGS that focuses on sequencing the entire DNA sequence of an organism.
- Coverage: WGS provides the most comprehensive data about a given organism, while NGS can deliver large amounts of data in a short amount of time. WGS is more expensive and time-consuming than targeted sequencing approaches, but the comprehensive nature of the data obtained can be beneficial for variant discovery and various downstream applications, such as cancer genetic diseases research, epidemiology, and genotyping.
In summary, NGS is a technology that enables high-throughput, cost-effective, and rapid sequencing, while WGS is a specific application of NGS that focuses on sequencing the entire genomic DNA of a cell.
Comparative Table: NGS vs WGS
Here is a table comparing the differences between Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS):
| Feature | Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) | Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | NGS is a massively parallel second-generation sequencing technology that is high throughput, low cost, and speedy. | WGS is a comprehensive method of analyzing the entire genomic DNA of a cell at a single time using a shotgun approach or high-throughput NGS sequencing. |
| Sequencing Technology | NGS consists of only second-generation sequencing methods. | WGS consists of first, second, and third-generation sequencing methods. |
| Throughput | High throughput, allowing the processing of millions of reactions in parallel. | Sequencing the entire DNA sequence of an organism. |
| Cost | Lower cost compared to traditional sequencing methods. | Can be more expensive and time-consuming than targeted sequencing approaches. |
| Speed | Faster than traditional sequencing methods, enabling the sequencing of a human genome in just a single day. | Profiling the entire genome facilitates the discovery of novel genes and variants associated with non-coding areas of the genome. |
| Applications | NGS is used in various clinical applications, including therapeutic intervention in personalized medicine, evolutionary biology, comparative genomic analysis, mutations and rearrangements studies, rare variant association studies, and predicting disease susceptibility and drug response. | WGS is a powerful tool for variant discovery with several downstream applications, including cancer genetic diseases research, epidemiology, and genotyping. |
In summary, NGS is a high-throughput, cost-effective, and speedy sequencing technology that uses second-generation methods, while WGS is a comprehensive approach to sequencing the entire genomic DNA of a cell, using a combination of different sequencing generations.
Read more:
- NGS vs Sanger Sequencing
- Whole Genome Sequencing vs Exome Sequencing
- Genetics vs Genomics
- Gene Mapping vs Gene Sequencing
- Hierarchical vs Whole Genome Shotgun Sequencing
- Genotyping vs Sequencing
- Shotgun Sequencing vs Next Generation Sequencing
- Microarray vs Next Generation Sequencing
- Nanopore vs Illumina Sequencing
- Gene vs Genome
- Exome vs RNA Sequencing
- Gene Sequencing vs DNA Fingerprinting
- Genome vs Exome
- Genetic Engineering vs Genome Editing
- Genomic vs Plasmid DNA
- Genomics vs Proteomics
- cDNA vs Genomic Library
- DNA Profiling vs DNA Sequencing
- FISH vs CGH