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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2001-04 > 0987788798


From: Ron Lindsay <>
Subject: [DNA] DNA Sequencing Article
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 10:46:38 -0700


Greetings List,

The process of determining the order of the individual chemical bases (A,
T, G, and C) in a DNA molecule is called DNA sequencing. Significant
technological advances in DNA sequencing is what made possible the
publication of the working draft sequence of the human genome (3.2
gigabases in all) in February 2001.

A very readable explanation of the four key milestone technologies and the
newer technologies that will take us to the next level was presented in the
April 20, 2001 edition of Science magazine, article entitled, "Sequencing
Genomes and Beyond", authored by Deirdre R. Meldrum.

With the use of these technologies and computers, sequencing capacity and
output has increased to a rate exceeding 1000 nucleotides per second, 24
hours a day, seven days a week. What to do with all this data is yet to be
determined. How these sequences can be adjusted for the benefit of mankind
is even further down the road.

I highly recomend this article particularly for those on this List that
felt "cheated" with the content of the Nova program this past Tuesday.
Cheers.

Ron Lindsay
San Jose, CA

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