Massive Parallel Sequencing (MPS), also known as Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is the collection of technologies that are able to genotype (determine the sequence) of DNA or RNA fragments in a massive and parallel fashion.

The second generation MPS technologies rely on clonal amplification of the DNA/RNA fragments to be genotyped, whilst third generation MPS technologies can directly sequence single DNA/RNA fragments without prior clonal amplification.

​

The second generation technologies generate short sequences of the clonally amplified fragments and are referred to as short-read sequencers. They rely on sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS), where the stepwise incorporation of nucleotides - starting from a sequencing primer - is detected through changes in either fluorescence, pH or impedance. These technologies generally have a low error rate.

​

The third generation technologies generate long sequences and are referred to as long-read sequencers. The sequence of the DNA (or RNA) fragment to be inferred, is established by measuring either (1) the potential difference over a membrane when this fragment migrates through an nanopore embedded in this membrane or (2) the real-time incorporation of fluorescently labelled nucleic acids by a polymerase. Generally, these technologies have a higher error rate than the 2nd generation sequencing technologies.