DNA sequencing

    To understand the complexities of gene structure, its expression, its regulation, protein interactions, and molecular mechanisms of genetic diseases, the detailed and exact sequences of the bases in DNA is very essential. One of the important tools used in various DNA sequencing techniques is gel electrophoresis.

DNA sequencing techniques

    The mechanism of any DNA sequencing method is based upon three steps;

1. Step-1: To generate a piece of DNA of different sizes all starting from the same point and ending at different points.
2. Step-2: Separation of these different sized pieces of DNA by gel electrophoresis.
3. Step-3: Reading the sequence from the gel.

    For the generation of different sized DNA fragments, two different sequencing methods were developed during the late 1970s. They are Sanger method and Maxam-Gilbert method.