Final answer:
Next-generation sequencing technologies, which emerged around 2005, allow for rapid and large-scale sequencing of DNA, with systems like 454's pyrosequencing being among the first available. They have made whole-genome sequencing more efficient and affordable, and were predated by the Human Genome Project's efforts, which advanced the availability of human genome data.
Step-by-step explanation
Methods for next-generation sequencing (NGS) have been around since 2005.
NGS encompasses various automated and rapid DNA sequencing technologies that have dramatically advanced the field of genomics.
One of the first available systems was 454's pyrosequencing, a technology that exemplifies the shift from traditional Sanger sequencing methods to the rapid throughput capabilities we see today.
These high-throughput sequencing techniques allow for sequencing of millions of short DNA fragments (ranging from 25 to 600 base pairs) in a single day, making whole-genome sequencing more accessible and cost-effective.