This sequencing method was originally developed by 10x Genomics in 2015, and was launched under the name GemCode or Chromium. GemCode employed a method of gel bead-based barcoding to amalgamate short DNA fragments. The longer fragments produced by this could then be sequenced using validated technology such as Illumina next-generation sequencing. An updated version of linked-read sequencing was introduced by the same company in 2018, termed Linked-Reads V2. While GemCode uses a single barcode for tagging of both the gel bead and the DNA fragment, Linked-Reads V2 uses separate barcodes for improved detection of genetic variants.
The group developed the linked-read sequencing technology published their first paper regarding this technology in 2016. The authors of this paper developed the linked-read sequencing technology initially to sequence the genomes of both healthy individuals and cancer patients to determine somatic mutations, copy number variations, and structural variations in cancer genomes. Later that year, another research group combined linked-read sequencing technology with long-read sequencing technology to assemble human genome. Both studies demonstrated the utility of linked-read sequencing in comprehensive genome analysis and in understanding genetic diseases. However, in 2019, a lawsuit relating to patent infringement resulted in 10x Genomics discontinuing their line of linked-read products.