Does genome size matter?
Genome size, or C-value, varies dramatically across life forms and plays an important role in planning sequencing strategies, costs, and analysis depth.
What is genome size?
Genome size refers to the total amount of DNA contained in one copy of a complete genome. It is commonly expressed as base pairs (bp) or picograms of DNA.
How much does genome size vary?
Genome sizes span several orders of magnitude. Some bacteria have genomes smaller than 0.2 Mbp, while certain plants exceed 100 Gbp.
Why genome size matters for sequencing
- Determines required sequencing depth
- Impacts project cost and turnaround
- Guides platform and library selection
- Influences downstream bioinformatics
Planning a genome sequencing project?
We help estimate coverage, cost, and platform based on genome size.