10x Genomics Stock Plummets: Why We’re Not Worried

“Every cell in your body has the same DNA. Except it doesn’t.” That was the title of a 2018 New York Times article that talked about how “the genome doesn’t just vary from person to person, it also varies from cell to cell.” That same year, an article was published by Science discussing a landmark study which shows how brain cells can revamp their DNA over time, something that could potentially cause Alzheimer’s. In other words, there’s a clear need for scientists to achieve cellular resolution for DNA sequencing which can only happen with tools like those on offer from 10x Genomics (TXG) and other life sciences companies.

Traditional next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods examine DNA taken from a collection of cells so that it becomes “the average of the population.” Such methods are referred to as “bulk sequencing” as opposed to “single cell sequencing” which is what it says on the tin. That’s according to an article by Technology Networks which breaks down the single-cell sequencing process into four steps.

1. Isolation of single cells from a cell population.
2. Extraction, processing, and amplification of the genetic material of each isolated cell.
3. Preparation of a “sequencing library” including the genetic material of an isolated cell.
4. Sequencing of the library using a next-generation sequencer.

That fourth step is where Illumina comes