High throughput sequencing technologies have become essential in studies on genomics, epigenomics,
and transcriptomics. Although sequencing information has traditionally been elucidated using a low throughput
technique called Sanger sequencing, high throughput sequencing technologies are capable of sequencing multiple
DNA molecules in parallel, enabling hundreds of millions of DNA molecules to be sequenced at a time. This
advantage allows high throughput sequencing to be used to create large data sets, generating more comprehensive
insights into the cellular genomic and transcriptomic signatures of various diseases and developmental stages.
Within high throughput sequencing technologies, whole exome sequencing can be used to identify novel variants
and other mutations that may underlie many genetic cardiac disorders, whereas RNA sequencing can be used to
analyze how the transcriptome changes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and methylation sequencing
can be used to identify epigenetic changes, whereas ribosome sequencing can be used to determine which mRNA
transcripts are actively being translated. In this review, we will outline the differences in various sequencing
modalities and examine the main sequencing platforms on the market in terms of their relative read depths,
speeds, and costs. Finally, we will discuss the development of future sequencing platforms and how these new
technologies may improve on current sequencing platforms. Ultimately, these sequencing technologies will be
instrumental in further delineating how the cardiovascular system develops and how perturbations in DNA and
RNA can lead to cardiovascular disease