Educational Content: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Definition of Shotgun sequencing
Medically reviewed by Dr. Otari Nergadze, Neurosurgeon | Updated: January 2026
Shotgun sequencing: An approach used to decode a genome by shredding ("shotgunning") it into smaller fragments of DNA which can then be individually sequenced. The sequences of these fragments are then ordered, based on overlaps in the genetic code, and finally reassembled into the complete sequence.
The "whole genome shotgun" method is applied to the entire genome all at once, while the "hierarchical shotgun" method is applied to large, overlapping DNA fragments of known location in the genome.
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