DNA Sequencing

This chapter describes DNA sequencing as a specialized technique. Since the first description of the rapid DNA sequencing methods, which allowed several hundred base pairs of DNA to be sequenced, the methods have developed so that it is feasible to sequence the entire human genome. The chapter is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the methods and potential pitfalls, as new examples of both are continually being discovered. However, the working methods are described. Many changes in methodology have been made since the earlier version of this chapter was written and new methods undoubtedly appear. The first apparatus for automated DNA sequencing is now coming into use and will become much more reliable, cheaper, and popular over the coming years. It should be remembered that a DNA sequence is correct, though it is nearly always easier to obtain the wrong DNA sequence than the correct one. A single mistake can completely alter the biological interpretation of the data