WGBS

WGBS stands for Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing. It is a laboratory technique used to determine the methylation status of every cytosine in a genome. Methylation of cytosines, specifically at CpG dinucleotides, is a crucial epigenetic modification that plays a significant role in gene regulation, development, and disease.

The WGBS process involves treating DNA with sodium bisulfite. This chemical reaction converts unmethylated cytosines to uracil, while methylated cytosines remain unchanged. Following bisulfite treatment, the DNA is sequenced using high-throughput sequencing technologies. The resulting sequencing reads are then mapped back to a reference genome. By comparing the sequenced reads to the reference, researchers can identify the positions where cytosines have been converted to uracils (indicating they were unmethylated) and those that remain as cytosines (indicating they were methylated).

WGBS provides a comprehensive, single-base resolution map of DNA methylation across the entire genome. This allows for detailed analysis of methylation patterns in various biological contexts, including identifying differentially methylated regions between different cell types, tissues, or conditions. It is a powerful tool for understanding the epigenetic landscape and its impact on biological processes and is widely used in cancer research, developmental biology, and other fields studying epigenetics.