“Multiplexing” and “Demultiplexing” in next generation sequencing

Question

I’m trying to learn about next-generation sequencing techniques (specifically sc-RNA seq) and I keep seeing the word “multiplexing” or “demultiplexing” reads/data. I’ve tried to look it up but I can’t seem to find a good explanation.

In: Biology

Answer 1

I’m not a biologist, but in Electronic engineering, we use multiplexing for sending multiple signals down a transmission line, and demultiplexing for splitting one transmission line into many signals at the other end. It looks like this is much the same. you take many samples, combine them into one data-set, sequence them on a high-power sequencing machine, and then un-merge them into their respective data-sets