Method for performing single-cell analysis and device therefor

A method of genome sequencing of a cell at a single-cell level, comprising the steps of:

• encapsulating two or more cells or cell-like structures in liquid droplets, at one cell or construct unit per liquid droplet, by using a sample comprising the cells or cell-like structures;
• converting the liquid droplets into gel to generate a gel capsule;
• immersing the gel capsule in one or more types of lysis reagents to lyse the cells or cell-like structures, wherein a polynucleotide in the cells, which has eluted out into the gel capsule, is retained in the gel capsule with a substance binding to the polynucleotide removed;
• contacting the polynucleotide with an amplification reagent to amplify the polynucleotide within the gel capsule while maintaining a gelatinous state;
• and
• determining a whole sequence of a genomic DNA of the cells from the amplified polynucleotide,
• wherein the cells comprise a microbial cell,
• wherein the lysis reagent comprises lysozyme, achromopeptidase, protease K, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and potassium hydroxide;
• wherein the state where the substance binding to the polynucleotide is removed is a state where a DNA binding protein is removed, and
• wherein the amplification step is performed by an isothermal strand displacement amplification reaction.

A device for amplifying a polynucleotide in a cell, comprising:

• a liquid droplet preparation unit for encapsulating cells or cell-like structures in liquid droplets at one cell or construct unit per liquid droplet;
• a gel capsule generation unit for converting the liquid droplets into gel to generate a gel capsule;
• a lysis reagent immersion unit for immersing the gel capsule in a lysis reagent, wherein the lysis reagent immersion unit is configured so that a polynucleotide in the cells, which has eluted out into the gel capsule, is retained in the gel capsule, with a substance binding to the polynucleotide removed, upon lysis;
• a removal unit for removing a contaminant from the gel capsule;
• and
• an amplification reagent immersion unit for immersing the gel capsule in an amplification reagent, wherein the amplification reagent immersion unit is configured so that a gelatinous state is maintained for the gel capsule during amplification.