Sequencing

For the sense of "sequencing" used in electronic music, see the music sequencer article.

In genetics and biochemistry, sequencing means to determine the primary structure (or primary sequence) of an unbranched biopolymer. Sequencing results in a symbolic linear depiction known as a sequence which succinctly summarizes much of the atomic-level structure of the sequenced molecule.

In genetics terminology, sequencing is most often restricted to determining the nucleotides of a DNA or RNA strand. Methods to perform DNA or RNA sequencing include:

• chromosome walking
• shotgun sequencing
• Chain termination method

Future methods:

• nanopore sequencing
• GeneEngine

Methods for performing protein sequencing include:

• Edman degradation
• mass spectrometry
• protease digests

Though polysaccharides are biopolymers, it is not so common to talk of sequencing a polysaccharide, because a symbolic linear depiction cannot capture their tendency to branch and to bond to one other in different ways.

See also

• Genetic code
• Sequence motif

External links

• Information on genome projects, and the data they have produced (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Genome) at the National Center for Biotechnology Information

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