Tracking Genomic Data with Unique Identifiers: How UDIs and UMIs Maintain Stride in NGS Analysis
Twist Bioscience, a US-based biotechnology company renowned for its synthetic DNA manufacturing, has made significant strides in the field of DNA sequencing with its unique UDI (Unique Dual Index) and UMI (Unique Molecular Identifier) adapters. These innovative tools have been designed for precision and built for discovery in high-throughput and high-sensitivity applications.
In next-generation sequencing (NGS), adapters and indexes are essential for making samples readable, sortable, and reliable. Twist's UDI and UMI adapters are no exception. UDIs, the gold standard for clean sample separation in high-throughput runs, use two unique index sequences on each end of the DNA fragment. On the other hand, Unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) help determine if a sequence comes from a unique DNA molecule or is a PCR artifact.
UDIs are commonly used in studies like population-scale genome sequencing, where thousands of samples are pooled together in a single, high-throughput sequencing run. They are particularly useful in fields such as agriculture, where researchers study genetic diversity in crops, livestock, or wild fish populations, and need to sequence samples from thousands of individuals.
Twist's UDI adapters are built with a high degree of sequence accuracy and diversity, enabling accurate sample demultiplexing even with minor mismatches. Each Twist adapter system delivers uniform read counts, minimal barcode collisions, and compatibility with T-overhang workflows.
The Twist UMI Adapter System supports ultra-sensitive applications, such as detecting rare somatic variants or studying methylation patterns in cell-free DNA. UMIs solve a different problem than UDIs, working together to help researchers distinguish between real variants and noise, multiplex without fear, and keep costs under control.
Twist offers a variety of UMI solutions for different applications, including those that are PCR-free. For instance, the Twist UMI Adapter System is engineered for detecting low-frequency mutations in challenging samples like cell-free DNA.
Twist also offers a High-Throughput (HT) Universal Adapter System with 3,072 unique indexes, each one empirically tested for uniform read distribution and sequence accuracy. This system is ideal for pooling thousands of samples to accelerate population genomics studies.
In addition, Twist has designed a set of UMIs specifically for methylation sequencing, which can be integrated into the Twist Methylation Detection System. The Twist Methylated UMI Adapters enable accurate deduplication, reducing false duplication calls by 15% in low-diversity samples.
Moreover, Twist's UMI adapters are compatible with enzymatic methylation sequencing (EM-seq) protocols, preserving fragment length and improving target coverage and reproducibility.
In conclusion, Twist Bioscience's UDI and UMI adapters are crucial for data integrity in NGS workflows, whether pooling thousands of samples for population sequencing, sequencing ancient genomes, or trying to fish out rare variants from cell-free DNA. These innovative tools are set to revolutionise the field of DNA sequencing, making it more accurate, reliable, and cost-effective.
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