The Science Behind

DNA Sequencing
Liz Egler

Definitions
DNA is the molecule that is the
hereditary material in all living cells.
ddNPT are dideoxynucleotides,
nucleotides that have one less oxygen
than regular nucleotides and cut off
chains of DNA.

DNA Sequencing
DNA sequencing is the process of
determining the precise order of
nucleotides within a DNA
molecule.
Next Generation Sequencing
processes entire strands of DNA at
one time using machines. Illumina
is one of the most used.

Step 1: Collect DNA

Depending on your goals, you could
collect your DNA from:

Blood
Cheek Cells
Saliva
Bone
Sperm
Hair

Step 2: Polymerase Chain Reaction - - PCR

PCR exponentially copies a small
amount of DNA millions of times in a
very small amount of time.
In this step, we also add ddNTP,
which cut strands each one length
longer than the last.
ddNTP also have different fluorescent
labels per letter.

Adding fluorescent ddNTP to the end of DNA strands

Step 3: Automated Gel Electrophoresis

Machines separate DNA based on
size and charge in 96 row gels or
capillaries.
Then, a computer analyses the
fluorosed ddNPT and from the
different labels on the letters, it can
tell the sequence.

The Final Product - - Sequenced DNA

DNA Sequencing is used for...

Forensic Crime

Non-coding vs. Next Gen.

Ancestry
Archeology
Medicine

Vaccines, insulin, hormone growth

Research
Agriculture