Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)
What Is Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)?
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is the most comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) method, providing complete coverage of the entire genome, including coding and non-coding regions. It is widely used for identifying novel changes, single-base variants (SNVs), structural rearrangements (SVs), and evolutionary patterns across a broad range of organisms.
In short-read WGS, the genome is enzymatically cut into 200bp-500bp fragments, and then sequenced - millions of short reads at a time. In variant detection, reads are then aligned to a reference genome and analyzed for SNPs, insertions/deletions (InDels), and structural changes.
Advantages of WGS
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Comprehensive Coverage: Because WGS captures both coding (exons) and noncoding regions (introns, intergenic), it can discover novel variants outside of known hotspots which is important for research into regulatory elements or structural rearrangements.
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Uniformity & Resolution: Sequencing coverage is often more uniform across the genome compared to targeted capture or probe-based sequencing, reducing biases that can leave small regions undercovered. This uniformity improves sensitivity for detecting non-coding regions, structural changes, and rare or mosaic variants.
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Broad Applicability: WGS can be deployed across any organism or research area, from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to pathogen detection in environmental samples, without needing custom species-specific panels.
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Flexible Cost-Efficiency: By offering adjustable coverage from as low as 0.1×, WGS reduces costs while producing datasets that remain valuable for future research.
WGS supports a wide variety of applications in research and translational science:
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Rare disease discovery and inherited disorder analysis
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Cancer genomics and tumor mutation profiling
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Pharmecogenomics and precision medicine
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Evolutionary and comparative genomics
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Agrigenomics and breeding programs
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Microbial and viral research
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Environmental biodiversity and conservation studies
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Industrial and synthetic biology
As one of the leading genome sequencing providers in California, AUGenomics supports clients in academia, biotech, and pharma with flexible, scalable WGS solutions.
What is WGS Used For?
Whole Genome Sequencing with AUGenomics
Sample Submission
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Accepted Sample Types: Isolated cells, blood, saliva, buccal swabs, tissue, plant tissue, soil, environmental sample, FFPE blocks, or extracted genomic or microbial DNA
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Input Requirement: ≥100 ng of high-quality DNA
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Sequencing Recommendations:
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Germline WGS: 30x coverage
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Shallow/Low Pass WGS: .5x–2x coverage
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Tumor Profiling: 200x-300x coverage
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Sequencing Read Length: 2x150 bp
Please refer to our Shipping Guidelines for project-specific guidance.
Turnaround Time
Typical turnaround for WGS projects is 10-14 business days from sample receipt. Rush options are available depending on project scope and sequencing depth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What’s the difference between WGS and WES (Whole Exome Sequencing)?
A: WGS captures the entire genomic sequence—including non-coding regions, intergenic areas, and regulatory elements—while WES focuses only on exons, which make up ~1–2% of the genome. WGS is more comprehensive but requires more data and cost.
Q: Can you perform shallow WGS for copy number variation (CNV) detection?
A: Yes, our shallow whole genome sequencing options are optimized for CNV and structural variant analysis.
Q: Do you support both human and non-human genome sequencing?
A: Absolutely. We offer WGS for human, animal, microbial, and plant genomes, including de novo assembly and reference-based workflows.
Q: How many reads do I need for 30X coverage?
A: Please refer to our Coverage Calculator.
Got more questions? Contact our team and get a free consultation anytime. info@augenomics.com
Glossary of Terms
WGS: Whole Genome Sequencing
Coverage: Average number of reads representing a given nucleotide (how many times on average each position in the genome is read)
CNV: Copy Number Variation
FFPE: Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (tissue preservation method)
