What is sequencing?
In genetics, sequencing is the process of determining the nucleotide order of a given DNA or RNA molecule. Sequencing is used to identify the order of nucleotides in a gene, which can be used to determine the function of that gene. It can also be used to identify mutations and variations in genes.
The first step in sequencing is to create a DNA or RNA template. This template can be created using a variety of methods, including PCR (polymerase chain reaction), Sanger sequencing, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Once the template has been created, it can be sequenced using one of several different methods, including Sanger sequencing, NGS, or whole genome shotgun sequencing (WGS).
Sanger sequencing is the most common method for DNAsequencing. It uses enzymes to create new DNA strands that are complementary to the template strand. These new strands are then separated by size using gel electrophoresis. The resulting sequence can be read from the gel using an automated sequencer.
NGS is a newer method that can sequence large amounts of DNA much faster than Sanger sequencing. It uses specialized equipment to read millions or billions of short sequences at once. The resulting data is then assembled into longer sequences using computers.
WGS is another newer method that can sequence an entire genome at once. Unlike NGS, it does not require a preexistingDNAtemplate; instead, it randomly fragments the genome into small pieces and sequences each piece separately. The resulting data is thenassembled into long sequences using computers