The Aksimentiev Group

With the advent of Next-Generation-Sequencing (NGS) technologies, an enormous volume of DNA sequencing data can be generated at low cost, placing genomic science within the grasp of everyday medicine. However, mired in this voluminous data, a new problem has emerged: the assembly of the genome from the short reads. In this chapter we examine the prospects for sequencing DNA using a synthetic nanopore. Nanopore sequencing has the potential for very long reads, reducing the computational burden posed by alignment and genome assembly, while at the same time eliminating logistically challenging and error-prone amplification and library formation due to its exquisite single molecule sensitivity. On the other hand, long high fidelity reads demand stringent control over both the DNA configuration in the pore and the translocation kinetics. We examine the prospects for satisfying these specifications with a synthetic nanopore.