The NextSeq 500 System uses the same industry-leading Illumina SBS chemistry as all other Illumina instruments such as the HiSeq and MiSeq. This method is based on proprietary reversible terminator-based chemistry and enables the massively parallel sequencing of millions of DNA fragments, detecting single bases as they are incorporated into growing DNA strands. The method results in very low errors and missed calls associated with strings of repeated nucleotides (homopolymers). According to Illumina, the newest SBS v2 sequencing reagents enable the NextSeq 500 System to "deliver the most accurate human genome, exome, or transcriptome at any coverage level" and "the NextSeq 500 System with SBS v2 chemistry delivers improved signal intensities and the lowest number of false positives, false negatives, and error rates yet".
With this instrument, researchers can perform any kind of NGS experiments, such as whole genome sequencing, RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, targeted sequencing and so on. The flexibility of the NexSeq 500 allows different users to switch quickly between different NGS applications and configure the output based on coverage needs and number of samples. For example, we can be sequencing a whole genome one day and 30 hours later, be sequencing multiple microbial transcriptomes.
Trained users will have keycard access to the lab and will be able to book and use the analytical instruments. For ease of management, molecular biology instruments located in the BNL are also part of the Analytical core. Researchers can also engage BNL staff to perform basic molecular biological experiments such as recombinant protein expression. Cost will be on a project-by-project basis and will include staff man-hours, materials used and instrument recharges.