Indel-correcting DNA barcodes for high-throughput sequencing

Significance Modern high-throughput biological assays study pooled populations of individual members by labeling each member with a unique DNA sequence called a “barcode.” DNA barcodes are frequently corrupted by DNA synthesis and sequencing errors, leading to significant data loss and incorrect data interpretation. Here, we describe an error correction strategy to improve the efficiency and statistical power of DNA barcodes. Our strategy accurately handles insertions and deletions (indels) in DNA barcodes, the most common type of error encountered during DNA synthesis and sequencing, resulting in order-of-magnitude increases in accuracy, efficiency, and signal-to-noise ratio. The accompanying software package makes deployment of these barcodes straightforward for the broader experimental scientist community.