Since its inception in the 1970s with Frederick Sanger's pioneering work on Sanger sequencing, DNA sequencing technology has undergone a remarkable evolution. Automated Sanger sequencing in the 1980s and 1990s significantly increased throughput and accuracy, while the 21st century saw the emergence of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies like Illumina, revolutionizing genomics research by enabling high-throughput sequencing (van Dijk et al. 2014). However, short-read sequencing techniques, including Illumina, have limitations in accurately resolving repetitive regions and complex structural variations within the genome, hindering comprehensive understanding. In response, third-generation sequencing technologies such as Pacific Biosciences' (PacBio) and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) have arisen, offering long-read capabilities but facing challenges like DNA polymerase limitations (PacBio) and high error rates (ONT)(Rhoads and Au 2015). Despite these challenges, both PacBio and ONT sequencing technologies continue to advance rapidly, with potential to deepen our understanding of the genome's complexities (Wang et al. 2021). Leveraging the advantages of ONT sequencing, and developing molecular biology methods and bioinformatics tools that overcome the limitations of ONT sequencing to address the unknowns of the adaptive immune system (AIS), is the focus of my graduate work. The diversity of antibody repertoires poses significant challenges for sequencing and annotation. By developing assays that overcome these challenges, my research contributes to a deeper understanding of antibody diversity across vertebrate species, with implications for antibody-based therapy and research applications.