Sequencing Services

Whole genome sequencing is used for interrogating single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions and deletions (indels), structural variants (SVs) and copy number variants (CNVs) in coding and non-coding regions of the genome.

Options include:

PCR free

• Genomic DNA is ligated to adapters without amplification creating the best quality and least biased whole genome.
• We specialize in human sequencing but can sequence any species from bacteria to mammalian and large plant genomes.
• Various genome coverages are available—30-40X is recommended for human germline analysis and 80X for somatic analysis.

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE)

• We have optimised plate-based FFPE nucleic acid extraction and library construction, these libraries are amplified and have shorter inserts due to sample quality.
• Due to the variable quality of FFPE samples, this sample type routinely requires more sequences to be generated to reach the same coverage levels as non-FFPE samples.

Amplified

• We also offer amplified whole genome sequencing, in particular for limiting samples, eg., circulating DNA or small biopsies.

Whole exome sequencing (WES) consists of sequencing only a specific subset of the genome, the exons, which represent the entire protein coding part of the genome. WES can be used to study genetic variations involved in inherited as well as in sporadic disorders, including cancers, and provide an  alternative to whole genome sequencing. We offer two types of exome capture protocols as well as custom gene/feature panels.

Options Include:

Exons only

• Covering 39 Mb of the human genome, representing the coding exons of 19,396 genes, we offer the xGen Exome Research Panel (v1.0) from Integrated DNA Technologies. 

Exons plus UTRs

• Covering 89 Mb of the human genome, including coding exons and 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions (UTRs), we offer the SureSelect Human All Exon (V6+UTR) exome from Agilent.

Custom capture

• We can also provide custom gene/feature panels.
• Please contact us to discuss your project requirements.

Whole transcriptome RNA sequencing is a next generation sequencing technique that measures the abundance of RNA transcripts and the presence of mutations or fusion transcripts in a sample. It is a powerful tool for understanding dynamics in the transcriptome, including gene expression level differences between different physiologic conditions or changes that occur during development or over the course of disease progression.

Options Include:

Ribosomal RNA depleted

• Stranded total RNA-seq with ribosomal depletion selectively removes ribosomal RNA from total RNA samples by hybridization. A complete transcriptome profile is produced that can be utilised for expression studies, alternative splicing, novel isoforms and expressed structural rearrangements.
• This can be performed on human or mouse samples and also functions well with lower quality RNA such as those extracted from FFPE tissue samples.

PolyA+ messenger RNA (mRNA)

• Stranded mRNA-Seq is a popular tool for estimating gene expression levels and comparing differential gene expression in model organisms.
• mRNA-Seq (PolyA+ selection) can provide valuable information about alternatively spliced isoforms and can help identify novel fusion transcripts.

Micro RNA (miRNA)

• miRNA analysis provides the ability to discover, measure and compare expression levels of known miRNAs and other small non-coding RNA species.

Single cell

• Using the 10x Genomics Chromium system we can provide single cell sequencing services, including 3’ polyA RNA sequencing and whole genome sequencing aimed at copy number profiling.

Epigenetics is used to describe heritable genetic modifications that are not attributable to changes in the primary DNA sequence. Epigenetic modifications play a crucial role in gene expression, and thereby underpin the development, regulation and maintenance of the normal cell. Lifestyle, nutrition and environmental factors can all lead to epigenetic changes. Two of the most commonly studied epigenetic modifications involve the binding of proteins to DNA and the methylation of cytosine (C) nucleotides in the context of a CpG dinucleotide. Because the expression of miRNAs can impact epigenetic mechanisms, they can also contribute to epigenetic changes.

Options Include:

Genome-wide DNA methylation

• Using Oxford Nanopore (PromethION) or Pacific Biosciences (Revio) platforms and PCR-free genome workflows, we can perform genome-wide DNA methylation readouts at single-nucleotide resolution and these are provided as part of the cost of genome sequencing. Other base modifications are also detected by these platforms with the calling algorithms for additional modification improving all the time.

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)

• ChIP is a powerful experimental approach enabling the identification of proteins associated with specific regions of the genome.

Histone modification 

• Histone modifications can impact gene expression by altering chromatin structure. Histone H3 modifications include methylation of lysine residues 4 (H3K4me1 and H3K4me3), 9 (H3K9me3), 27 (H3K27me3) and 36 (H3K36me3) and acetylation of lysine residue 27 (H3K27ac). Quantitative detection of these histone ‘marks’ provides useful information on the epigenetic regulation of cellular processes.
• We recommend sequencing the narrow, or punctate, marks (H3K4me3 and H3K27ac) with 50 million reads and the broad marks (H3K4me1, H3K9me3, H3K27me3, H3K36me3) and input chromatin control with 100 million reads.

Direct detection of methylcytosine via long-read sequencing 

• Using nanopore sequencing, we can directly identify DNA and RNA base modifications at nucleotide resolution.
• Compared to whole-genome bisulphite sequencing, long-read technology calls a higher number of CpG positions in the genome, requires less sequencing data, and shows more even genomic coverage with considerably lower GC bias; analysis runtime is also significantly shorter.

HiC

• HiC is a prox​imity ligation method that captures the three-dimensional (3D) organizational structure of chromatin, where genomic sequences that are distal to each other in linear distance can be closer to each other in the 3D space. The high-resolution, genome-wide map of interacting genetic loci that is generated from Hi-C data can then be used across multiple genomic applications including identification of promoter-enhancer interactions for gene regulation studies and scaffolding contigs for genome assemblies to define chromosomes de novo.
• We have optimized workflows for different tissues as well as isolated nuclei.

Enzymatic methyl sequencing (EM-seq)

• EM-seq (Enzymatic Methyl-seq) is used to study DNA methylation, a key epigenetic modification. EM-seq provides a way to identify and analyze the presence of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in DNA. EM-seq utilizes enzymes to convert unmethylated cytosines to uracils, minimizing DNA damage and improving the accuracy of methylation detection over bisulfite sequencing.

Metagenomic sequencing is the sequencing of mixed samples usually containing bacterial, fungi and environmental materials.

We recommend PCR free whole genome shotgun sequencing of metagenomics samples for most cases. This includes environmental samples such as soil as well as samples from feces or gut. This can be supported on both short and long read platforms.

Extractions are critical to successful metagenomics experiments to ensure an unbiased representation of the community. We can currently offer extractions in a bespoke mode.

In the event that a targeted approach is needed, for example when host DNA will dominate a shotgun experiment, then a 16S or ITS amplification and sequencing can be supported in a bespoke mode on both short and long read platforms.

We offer 10X Genomics GEM-X protocols including:

1. Single Cell Multiome – profile gene expression and chromatin accessibility in the same cell
2. Single Cell RNA – 3′ Gene Expression –  measure transcriptome-level gene activity across thousands of cells
3. Single Cell RNA – Flex Gene Expression – capture (probe)-based measurement of expression of protein-coding genes with fresh tissue, fixed tissue, FACS-sorted cells, frozen tissue (nuclei) and FFPE tissue derived cell isolates.

Our single-cell genomics platform also leverages Direct Library Preparation (DLP)—a nanoliter-scale, high-fidelity approach for single-cell whole-genome library construction without preamplification. DLP provides superior coverage uniformity and accurate detection of copy-number alterations compared to conventional methods. This enables detailed phylogenetic reconstruction, identification of rare cellular subclones, and characterization of clonal dynamics in tumor evolution. The method supports high-throughput, low-depth sequencing, generating bulk-equivalent genomes in silico while preserving cell-level resolution.

Our high-throughput proteomic profiling platform utilizes the Olink® Explore HT Reagent Kit, enabling quantitative analysis of over 5,000 proteins through next-generation sequencing–based detection. This technology offers exceptional sensitivity and dynamic range, quantifying proteins across concentrations from femtograms to milligrams per millilitre.

Recommended input materials include tissue, cell lysate, or plasma samples (0.5–1 µg/µl), requiring as little as 2 µl of input.

This platform supports large-scale, multiplexed protein biomarker discovery and systems-level analyses of disease biology.

Custom projects and additional services are available upon request, including submission of constructed libraries. Please connect with us to explore the possibilities.

Constructed libraries

• We accept constructed libraries.
• For information about what we accept and our requirements please check our Library Construction and Sequencing FAQ and our Constructed Library Submission Requirements document.
• Please contact us if you have questions.

Custom projects

• Please contact us to discuss your specific research needs and we can advise on the best technology and approach for your project.

For inquiries about Walk-up Sequencing services at the GSC, please contact our Collaborative Services team (sow@bcgsc.ca).