Introduction to Targeted Gene Sequencing
Targeted gene sequencing panels are useful tools for analyzing specific mutations in a given sample. Focused panels contain a select set of genes or gene regions that have known or suspected associations with the disease or phenotype under study. Gene panels can be purchased with preselected content or custom designed to include genomic regions of interest.
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers the scalability, speed, and resolution to evaluate targeted genes of interest. Multiple genes can be assessed across many samples in parallel, saving time and reducing costs associated with running multiple separate assays. Targeted gene sequencing also produces a smaller, more manageable data set compared to broader approaches such as whole-genome sequencing, making analysis easier.
Our Smallest, Most Accessible Sequencer
The iSeq 100 System offers affordable, fast, and accessible sequencing power for targeted or small genome sequencing in any lab.
Advantages of Targeted Gene Sequencing
- Sequences key genes or regions of interest to high depth (500–1000× or higher), allowing identification of rare variants
- Provides cost-effective findings for studies of disease-related genes
- Delivers accurate, easy-to-interpret results, identifying variants at low allele frequencies (down to 5%)
- Enables confident identification of causative novel or inherited mutations in a single assay
Predesigned Targeted Gene Panels
Predesigned panels contain important genes or gene regions associated with a disease or phenotype, selected from publications and expert guidance. By focusing on the genes most likely to be involved, these panels conserve resources and minimize data analysis considerations. Predesigned panels are available for research on various diseases, such as cancer, inherited disorders, cardiac conditions, and autism.
Gene Panel and Array Finder
Identify sequencing panels or microarrays that target your genes of interest. Search panels by gene, or find genotyping arrays by genomic location, variant ID, or species.
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Custom Targeted Gene Sequencing Solutions
With custom designs, researchers can target regions of the genome relevant to their specific research interests. Custom targeted sequencing is ideal for examining genes in specific pathways, or for follow-up experiments from genome-wide association studies or whole-genome sequencing.
Illumina supports two methods for targeted sequencing: target enrichment and amplicon generation.
- Target enrichment: Regions of interest are captured by hybridization to biotinylated probes and then isolated by magnetic pulldown. Target enrichment captures 20 kb–62 Mb regions, depending on the experimental design.
- Amplicon sequencing: Regions of interest are amplified and purified using highly multiplexed oligo pools. This method allows researchers to sequence a few genes to hundreds of genes in a single run, depending on the library preparation kit used.
DesignStudio Software: An easy-to-use online software tool that provides dynamic feedback to optimize probe designs.
AmpliSeq for Illumina Custom Panels: Create custom targeted sequencing panels optimized for content of interest.
Disease to Gene Finder Tool: Search by disease and find a ranked list of associated genes to help you design your custom panel or microarray.
Nextera Rapid Capture Custom Enrichment Kit: Custom assay for enriching genomic regions of interest, with add-on functionality.
Benefits of Target Enrichment vs. Amplicon Sequencing
Target Enrichment |
Amplicon Sequencing |
| Larger gene content, typically > 50 genes | Smaller gene content, typically < 50 genes |
| More comprehensive profiling for all variant types | Ideal for analyzing single nucleotide variants and insertions/deletions (indels) |
| More comprehensive method, but with longer hands-on time and turnaround time* | More affordable, easier workflow |
* the turnaround time is for library prep assay time (DNA to finished library).
Beginner's Guide to Next-Generation Sequencing
Considering bringing next-generation sequencing to your lab, but unsure where to start? These resources cover key topics in NGS and are designed to help you plan your first experiment.
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Targeted Multigene Panels Enable Efficient Variant Discovery
Switching from Sanger to targeted sequencing using NGS helped researchers in Milan unlock data about variants tied to neurological and metabolic disorders
Learn More
Related Solutions
Cancer Gene Sequencing
Targeted cancer panels focus on a select set of genes or gene regions that have known associations with cancer. The deep coverage offered by targeted resequencing studies enables high sensitivity for rare variant calling. Learn more about targeted cancer panels.
Inherited Condition Screening
Sequencing genes that have known involvement in certain disorders or conditions, such as autism or cardiovascular disease, can enable researchers to detect variants that contribute to inherited disorders. Learn more about genetic disease research.
HLA Sequencing
HLA typing research with NGS generates phase-resolved results using a single assay, in contrast to conventional methods, which require multiple assays, systems, and analysis programs. Learn more about HLA sequencing.
Featured Publications
Whole-exome and targeted sequencing identify ROBO1 and ROBO2 mutations as progression-related drivers in myelodysplastic syndromes.
Nat Commun 6 8806 2015
Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Identifies a Recurrent Mutation in MCPH1 Associating with Hereditary Breast Cancer Susceptibility.
PLoS Genet 12 e1005816 2016
Development of a Comprehensive Sequencing Assay for Inherited Cardiac Condition Genes.
J Cardiovasc Transl Res 9 3-11 2016
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Additional Resources
Targeted Gene Panel for Tumor Analysis
Dr Ravindra Kolhe discusses how TruSight Tumor 170 enables his lab to study many tumor-associated variants in a single assay.
Development of a Sequencing Panel for Autism Studies
Dr. Jonathan Pevsner discusses how his lab contributed to the development of a gene panel for autism research.
Analyzing Chromosomes Using Arrays and NGS
Researchers from the MGZ Medical Genetics Center use arrays and a gene panel to assess chromosomal abnormalities.
Targeted RNA Sequencing
Study the expression effects of variants identified with targeted gene sequencing.
Improved MiSeq Reagents
The v3 chemistry enables up to 15 Gb of output with 25 M sequencing reads and 2x300 bp read lengths.
NGS to Detect Blood Cancers
Targeted NGS can identify myeloid-related genes with greater sensitivity than Sanger sequencing or cytogenetic methods.
Removing Cancer's Veil: TruSight Tumor 170
A new enrichment-based cancer research assay interrogates both DNA and RNA, detecting small variants, gene amplifications, gene fusions, and splice variants.
TruSight Oncology UMI Reagents
The TruSight Oncology UMI Reagents and UMI Error Correction App reduce error rates in samples to ≤0.007%, enabling the detection of low frequency variants.