(2016) suggest that diploidization is central to the evolutionary success of
angiosperms.
3 Concepts and Terms Associated with DNA Sequencing
3.1 Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
In one of the most egregious naming decisions ever made, marketing personnel
began referring to 454 and Illumina platforms as “next-generation sequencing” or
NGS. Naturally, giving any technological breakthrough, the name “next generation”
is illogical as the technology already exists making it current, not next, generation.
Moreover, the inevitable development of new techniques will quickly make the
so-called next-generation items previous-generation items. Nonetheless, the use of
NGS has continued. While originally used to describe 454 and Illumina techniques,
NGS is now used to refer to all twenty-first-century sequencing techniques developed after modern Sanger sequencing, the dominant form of sequencing in the 1980s
and 1990s. Because the term “next-generation sequencing” is both vague and
technically incorrect, there has been a more recent trend to use the terms first-,
second-, and third-generation sequencing to describe sequencing technologies.
While not exactly accurate, these terms (see below) are preferable to NGS.
3.2 Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics, like most words used by biologists, is a term that is subject to a wide
range of interpretations. It was first coined by Paulien Hogeweg and Ben Hesper to
describe the “. . . study of informatics processes in biotic systems” (Hogeweg 2011).
However, the term was co-opted to describe the development of computer algorithms, software, pipelines, and databases to aid in the study of biological systems at
the macromolecular/genetic level. In this latter, and more widely known, meaning,
bioinformatics is engineering informed by biology.
3.3 Computational Biology
In contrast to bioinformatics, computational biology is the use of bioinformatics
tools and advanced computing infrastructure to explore biological questions. Consequently, it is scientific exploration that is possible based on advances in computer
and software engineering.
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123
angiosperms.
3 Concepts and Terms Associated with DNA Sequencing
3.1 Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
In one of the most egregious naming decisions ever made, marketing personnel
began referring to 454 and Illumina platforms as “next-generation sequencing” or
NGS. Naturally, giving any technological breakthrough, the name “next generation”
is illogical as the technology already exists making it current, not next, generation.
Moreover, the inevitable development of new techniques will quickly make the
so-called next-generation items previous-generation items. Nonetheless, the use of
NGS has continued. While originally used to describe 454 and Illumina techniques,
NGS is now used to refer to all twenty-first-century sequencing techniques developed after modern Sanger sequencing, the dominant form of sequencing in the 1980s
and 1990s. Because the term “next-generation sequencing” is both vague and
technically incorrect, there has been a more recent trend to use the terms first-,
second-, and third-generation sequencing to describe sequencing technologies.
While not exactly accurate, these terms (see below) are preferable to NGS.
3.2 Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics, like most words used by biologists, is a term that is subject to a wide
range of interpretations. It was first coined by Paulien Hogeweg and Ben Hesper to
describe the “. . . study of informatics processes in biotic systems” (Hogeweg 2011).
However, the term was co-opted to describe the development of computer algorithms, software, pipelines, and databases to aid in the study of biological systems at
the macromolecular/genetic level. In this latter, and more widely known, meaning,
bioinformatics is engineering informed by biology.
3.3 Computational Biology
In contrast to bioinformatics, computational biology is the use of bioinformatics
tools and advanced computing infrastructure to explore biological questions. Consequently, it is scientific exploration that is possible based on advances in computer
and software engineering.
Sequencing Plant Genomes
123