bisulfite sequencing

genetics

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July 20, 2026

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Bisulfite sequencing is a technique used in epigenomics to study chemical changes that regulate gene expression. Specifically, it helps identify the location of 5'-methylcytosine, a common DNA modification. The process involves treating DNA with bisulfite, which converts unmethylated cytosine to uracil (which is read as thymine during sequencing), while 5'-methylcytosine remains unchanged. By comparing bisulfite-treated DNA to untreated DNA, researchers can map where methylation occurs across the genome. This is crucial for understanding how genes are turned on or off, which impacts development and can be linked to diseases like cancer.12

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epigenomics
Research tools of epigenomics
…development of a technique called bisulfite sequencing, which was first reported by Australian geneticist Marianne Frommer and colleagues in 1992. This method, which enables both the detection and the localization of 5′-methylcytosines in DNA, takes advantage of the fact that treatment of DNA with the chemical bisulfite causes deamination of…
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…development of a technique called bisulfite sequencing, which was first reported by Australian geneticist Marianne Frommer and colleagues in 1992. This method, which enables both the detection and the localization of 5′-methylcytosines in DNA, takes advantage of the fact that treatment of DNA with the chemical bisulfite causes deamination of…
Read More