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# Long description

This figure is a horizontal timeline infographic showing key milestones in the development of DNA sequencing technology from 1977 to 2019. The timeline runs from left to right across the page, ending in an arrow to indicate continued progress. Each milestone is represented by a year with a circular icon above or below the timeline and a short label describing the event. The first milestone is year 1977 with the text ‘Sanger method developed’ accompanied by an icon of DNA strands with coloured markers. Year 1981 has the text ‘Human mitochondrial genome sequenced’ shown with a cell-like diagram.

Year 1990 has the text ‘The Human Genome Project launched’, illustrated with a human figure and DNA symbol. Year 1995 has the text ‘Complete cell genome sequenced’, shown with a simplified oval cell diagram.

Year 1996 has the text ‘Complete eukaryotic genome sequenced’ represented by a detailed cell-like illustration. Year 2003 has the text ‘The Human Genome Project completed’, indicated by a human figure with a DNA symbol. Year 2005 has the text ‘First NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) technology released: 454 GS20’ shown with a desktop sequencing machine. Year 2006 has the text ‘The Genome Analyzer launched’, represented by a larger sequencing instrument. Year 2007 has the text ‘The Human Microbiome Project launched’, illustrated by a human figure holding a magnified microbe. Year 2011 has the text ‘PacBio sequencer released’, depicted as a tall sequencing device. Year 2014 has the text ‘Nanopore sequencing device released’, shown as a small handheld device. Last on the right, year 2019 has the text ‘The Human Microbiome Project completion reached’, represented by a human figure with microbes.