Did you know that humans beings have around 3.2 billion bases of DNA in total? Are you studying DNA sequencing but are feeling confused and overwhelmed? We are here to help you understand everything there is to know about DNA sequencing from what it is to the different types.
Keep reading to learn everything there is to know about DNA sequencing.
What Is DNA Sequencing?
This is the process that scientists use in order to figure out how the nucleotides are ordered in a DNA molecule. The reason that DNA sequencing is important is that a researcher is able to figure out the generic information that is carried in the DNA strand. This information might affect how it functions in each person’s body.
DNA sequencing also helps detect any genetic changes that might cause adverse health conditions in people. Every person’s DNA has a structure that is made up of four different chemical bases. These four bases always exist in the same pairs.
The adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T) in DNA. The cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G). The two pairs form the basis of the DNA molecules and how the cells replicate and divide. This link goes into even further details about sequencing.
DNA Sequencing Types
The two types of DNA sequencing include high-throughput and shotgun. High-throughput is the most recent method of DNA sequencing. This method has led to speeding up the knowledge of DNA sequencing.
High-throughput has the ability to produce thousands of sequences at the same time. This in turn, also lowers the cost of the technique by a lot.
The other type of sequencing is shotgun which is considered the most traditional approach. This is designed to sequence long DNA strands that have more than 1000 base pairs. Also, it is able to design entire chromosomes.
The way that shotgun works is that there is a rapid expanding firing pattern that reads the DNA in short fragments of 100 to 1000 base pairs. These pairs are then overlapped with a computed analysis system.
Progression
This is a pretty new field and the first sequences were only obtained in the early 70s. Early on, those in the field relied on two-dimensional techniques in order to sequence DNA. Needless to say, this method was a lot more time consuming than modern-day DNA sequencing.
Thanks to technological advancements, the world of sequencing is a lot easier and also faster to study. Technology has also contributed to accelerating research growth.
Feeling Like a DNA Sequencing Pro?
We hope that now that you are familiar with what DNA sequencing is and the ins and outs you are feeling more confident and like a pro. With us, a human having over 3 billion bases of DNA in total understanding DNA sequencing is important when you are studying everything related to DNA.
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