To Get the Whole Picture, Sequence the Whole Genome
Next-generation DNA sequencing has recently empowered scientists to identify genetic variations associated with human disease at higher resolution and greater sensitivity than previously possible. Two approaches are commonly employed -- exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing. Exome sequencing targets protein-coding regions comprising approximately 1% of the human genome, while whole genome sequencing uses an unbiased approach to investigate the majority of the human genome, including a comprehensive survey of coding and non-coding regions.