title: How much metagenomic sequencing is enough to achieve a given goal?
abstract: Metagenomic studies have dramatically expanded our knowledge of the microbial world. Furthermore, the amount of sample for sequencing has significantly increased with the development of high-throughput sequencing technologies. However, fully capturing all DNA sequences carried by every microorganism in the environment is still impossible. Therefore, estimating a reasonable and practical amount for sequencing to achieve the objectives is particularly necessary. In the present study, we introduce a novel method for estimating the required minimum amount for metagenomic sequencing for a given goal. We also calculated the genomic proportion of each operational taxonomic unit and the detection efficiency of a specific gene (we have used SSU rRNA gene as an example) based on a given amount for random metagenomic sequencing. The reasonable and practical estimated amount for sequencing in metagenomic studies will provide good reference information when applying high-throughput sequencing for a given goal.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
authors.forename: Jiajia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Qingyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yuhe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D056186:Metagenomics
chemical_list: D004247:DNA