Genetics is the science that aims to understand and explain how biological inheritance is transmitted from generation to generation through DNA. Genetics studies genes, which are made up of DNA and RNA. Today there are different techniques to study genes in more detail, including genotyping and sequencing.
In today’s market there are a large number of genetic products and services available to anyone, among which DNA tests stand out. When acquiring a genetic test it is important to know which technique is being used to study the genetic information since, depending on the technique, the results obtained are interpreted differently.
The two most commonly used technologies are genotyping and sequencing. Each technique studies DNA differently with different amounts of DNA. The differences between the methods explain the variations in the prices of genetic analysis.
Genotyping is the study of genetic diversity by analyzing variations in the genome between individuals and populations. The most frequent forms of DNA variation are Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), substitutions of one base (A, T, G or C) for another base. These modifications in a gene are the cause of variations in hereditary characteristics. The purpose of using genotyping in a genetic test is to determine the presence of SNPs that are related to susceptibility to a particular disease.
On the other hand, DNA sequencing is a set of biochemical methods and techniques used to determine the order of the bases in a DNA oligonucleotide. In other words, this technique analyzes practically the entire DNA. Determining the complete DNA sequence makes it possible to know the somatic mutations generated between different organisms.
In other words, the main difference is that genotyping means determining the presence/absence of SNPs, and sequencing means reading the DNA sequence base by base. This difference is what determines the price, with genotyping techniques being less expensive than sequencing.
As we have seen, there are differences between these two techniques. But there are still more, such as applications of each one, the cost, the laboratory protocol to follow, among many others. Learn more about sequencing vs. genotyping.
At tellmeGen we offer the most complete genetic test on the market, using the genotyping technique. For this purpose, we have developed a Microarray chip that collects the maximum number of SNPs with great scientific evidence. This chip is the Illumina® Global Screening Array (V3) which contains more than 750,000 markers. In addition, it is personalized with more than 10,000 SNPs.
Having a genetic test provides valuable information for life. Your genes do not change over time, but how much is understood or known about the human genome changes. As research progresses, you can update the information in your genetic analysis, knowing if you are predisposed to certain diseases and being able to act against them in time.
