Demystifying Technology

Understanding 2nd vs 3rd Generation Sequencing to make the right choice.

2nd Generation (SBS)

Often referred to as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) (e.g., Illumina), this technology relies on Sequencing By Synthesis. It produces massive amounts of highly accurate, short reads.


Best for:

  • 16S Meta-amplicon Deep profiling
  • Metagenomics SNP analysis
  • High Volume Cost-effective large scale

3rd Generation (Long-Read)

Technologies like Oxford Nanopore (ONT) and PacBio sequence single native DNA/RNA molecules in real-time, resulting in extremely long reads replacing assembly puzzles.


Best for:

  • WGS Complete bacterial genomes
  • Structural variants Large insertions/deletions
  • In-House Integration ONT's portability

Why Magic Tree Focuses on ONT

While we support and routinely process 2nd generation Illumina data for 16S and broad metagenomes, the future of accessible sequencing lies in Oxford Nanopore Technologies. Its low capital cost and portable format allows smaller labs to skip external centers and run Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) on bacterial colonies completely in-house. Magic Tree specializes in bridging this gap, providing the roadmap, protocols, and compute pipelines to turn your laboratory into an independent sequencing hub.

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