Single Cell Sequencing: Most Promising Technology in Healthcare

Single cell sequencing has emerged as the most promising technology for both quantification and analysis, offering better results, as compared to RT-PCR and microarrays. Single cell sequencing offers a larger dynamic range and higher sensitivity while eliminating the bias inherent to microarrays. Gene expression profiling is a major application of single cell sequencing that has been widely used by pharma R&D scientists in recent years. The growing gene expression market has seen a significant shift from microarray technology to RNA sequencing because of advancements in technology and decrease in the cost of sequencing to a level similar to that of microarray analysis.

In addition to this, the growing geriatric population and the increasing demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures, led to the further advancements for single cell analysis. Acknowledging the future potential for massive growth in demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures, several biotechnology and life-sciences companies such as Illumina, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., 10x Genomics, Inc., Fluidigm Corporation, and Mission Bio, among others have invested substantially to aid further developments in single cell sequencing market.

The global single cell sequencing market is perceived to be a market with very high attractiveness by the investors. The impact of different factors such as the bargaining power of suppliers and the bargaining power of buyers is high to low, thus attracting the interest of several investors. In addition, the absence of direct substitute technologies has significantly elevated the entire market’s attractiveness. Significant research is presently being carried out by the key companies on the hybridization of technologies and the development of a fully automated single cell analysis system. Apart from this, there is a huge opportunity in the development of bioinformatics tools for non-traditional players in the market.