How does the Yenos nanopore platform compare to next-generation sequencing (NGS)?

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a high-throughput method that sequences millions of DNA or RNA fragments simultaneously. Small RNA sequencing by NGS can detect and quantify miRNA, but it requires extensive library preparation, PCR amplification of the library, and complex bioinformatic analysis. Like all PCR-based methods, NGS introduces amplification bias and data spread. It also requires expensive equipment and specialized bioinformatics pipelines. The MinION/Yenos platform achieves miRNA quantification more directly: no library preparation, no PCR, single-molecule counting. The result is less data spread, lower cost per assay (once the hardware is in place), and faster turnaround. The trade-off is that the Yenos platform measures only specific known miRNA targets (the three cancer biomarkers and the control) rather than providing a genome-wide miRNA profile as NGS does.