DNA sequencing is a common laboratory technique for determining the precise sequence of nucleotides or bases within a DNA molecule. Base sequences (often designated by the initial letters of their chemical names, A, T, C, and G) encode the biological information cells use to develop and function.
Currently, available DNA sequencing methods include Next Generation Sequencing and others. The DNA sequencing market has experienced significant growth and innovation in recent years, driven by various factors. At the same time, it also faces several challenges. Let's explore the drivers and challenges in the DNA sequencing market.
Market Drivers:
Increasing research and development activity:
DNA sequencing is used in the research and development of drugs. Thus, increasing research and development activity by key players in the market to expand their product portfolio is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.
- For instance, in January 2022, a rare genetic disorder was diagnosed in an average of 8 hours, using a new ultrafast genome sequencing approach developed by scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine and their collaborators.
- Genome sequencing allowed scientists to see a patient's complete DNA structure; this included information on everything, from eye color to genetic diseases. Genome sequencing is essential in diagnosing patients with DNA-rooted diseases.
Increasing prevalence of cancer
DNA sequencing technology is used to diagnose cancer; thus, the increasing prevalence of cancer is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.
- For instance, in February 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, Cancer was a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020.
- The most common in 2020 (in terms of new cases of cancer) were breast cancer (2.26 million cases), lung (2.21 million cases), colon and rectum (1.93 million cases), prostate (1.41 million cases), skin (non-melanoma) (1.20 million cases), and stomach (1.09 million cases).
Technological Advancements in DNA Sequencing, Increasing Application in Clinical Diagnosis and Drug Discovery:
DNA sequencing advances have boosted market growth. Since the Human Genome Project, technical advances and cost reductions have allowed some laboratories to sequence over 100 trillion bases each year, according to the NHGRI.
DNA sequencing equipment like the Biomek 4000, Hudson Robotics SOLO, Formulatrix Mantis, Hamilton Microlab NIMBUS, Hamilton Genomic STARlet, Eppendorf epMotion 5075t, Beckman Coulter Biomek i5, Tecan NGS, PerkinElmer Sciclone G3 NGS and NGSx Workstation, Hamilton NGS STAR, Beckman Coulter Biomek i7, and Agilent Bravo NGS have improved DNA sequencing.
Clinical research had greater potential for DNA sequencing. According to the NIH, 25–30 million Americans have 7000 uncommon illnesses. Most rare illnesses are genetic. Thus, genomic sequencing-based rare-disease treatment may boost market growth.
Market Challenges:
Ethical and Privacy Concerns:
The increasing availability of personal genomic data raises ethical concerns regarding privacy, data security, and potential misuse. Safeguarding patient privacy, obtaining informed consent, and establishing robust data protection mechanisms are important challenges in the DNA sequencing market.
Standardization and Quality Control:
Ensuring consistent and reliable results across different sequencing platforms and laboratories is crucial. Standardization of protocols, quality control measures, and validation of sequencing workflows are ongoing challenges.
Standardization efforts are essential to enable data reproducibility and comparability, especially in clinical and research settings.
Market Restraints:
The High Cost of DNA Sequencing:
- The major factors that can hamper the growth of the global DNA sequencing market over the forecast period include the high cost of DNA sequencing, lack of specific expertise, disadvantages such as data generation on a large scale, and decreased raw accuracy in homology.
- For instance, in November 2021, according to the data provided by National Human Genome Research Institute, the estimated cost for human genome sequence is ~US$300 million globally, of which the National Institute of Health (NIH) provided roughly 50-60%.
Overall, despite the challenges, the drivers in the DNA sequencing market, such as advancements in genomics, cost reduction, clinical applications, and technological innovations, continue to propel the market forward, while addressing the challenges remains crucial for its sustained growth and impact.
To Know More Insights Download Sample
