Glossary
Next generation sequencing - Tools and issues for human health

Adapter

Short DNA sequences that allow the sequencing primer to bind.

Amplicon; Amplicon

A DNA fragment amplified by PCR.

Barcode

A small DNA fragment consisting of a few bases used to identify libraries.

Dysbiosis; Dysbiosis

An imbalance in the bacterial ecosystem, particularly in the gut.

Exome; Exome

The set of exons in the genome that encode proteins.

Flow cell (FC)

A solid support on which sequencing takes place.

Homopolymer; Homopolymer

A sequence of several identical bases (AAAAAAA, GGGGGG).

Unique molecular identifiers (UMI)

Barcodes used in single-cell RNA-seq.

Isoform

An RNA transcript resulting from alternative splicing.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Sophisticated hardware or software capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.