Biology & 3D Animation Library

Sanger Sequencing

The DNA sequencing method developed by Fred Sanger forms the basis of automated "cycle" sequencing reactions today. Scaling up to sequence. In the 1980s, two key developments allowed researchers to believe that sequencing the entire genome could be possible. The first was a technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that enabled many copies of DNA sequence to be quickly and accurately produced. The second, an automated method of DNA sequencing, built upon the chemistry of PCR and the sequencing process developed by Frederick Sanger in 1977.
(DNAi Location: Genome > The Project > Putting it together > Animations > Sanger sequencing)

Duration: 51 seconds

The first method of sequencing the genetic code was devised by Fred Sanger. To sequence the DNA, it must first be separated into two strands. The strand to be sequenced is copied using chemically altered bases. These altered bases cause the copying process to stop each time one particular letter is incorporated into the growing DNA chain. This process is carried out for all four bases, and then the fragments are put together like a jigsaw to reveal the sequence of the original piece of DNA.

Sanger sequencing, Fred Sanger, Frederick Sanger, polymerase chain reaction, polymerase chain reaction PCR, Sanger DNA, DNA

This animation is available on YouTube .

Related Content

16515. Animation 23: A gene is a discrete sequence of DNA nucleotides.

Fred Sanger outlines DNA sequencing.

  • ID: 16515
  • Source: DNALC.DNAFTB

15475. The cycles of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), 3D animation

The cycles of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

  • ID: 15475
  • Source: DNALC.DNAi

17044. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enables researchers to produce millions of copies of a specific DNA sequence in approximately two hours. This automated process bypasses the need to use bacteria for amplifying DNA.

  • ID: 17044
  • Source: DNALC

16036. Fred Sanger, 1975

A gene is a discrete sequence of DNA nucleotides

  • ID: 16036
  • Source: DNAi

16526. Biography 23: Frederick Sanger (1918-2013)

Frederick Sanger received two Nobel prizes (in the same category), for his work on protein sequencing and DNA sequencing.

  • ID: 16526
  • Source: DNALC.DNAFTB

15625. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

DNA polymerase (blue) makes many copies of DNA (red) in a cycle of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

  • ID: 15625
  • Source: DNAi

15567. DNA sequence

Early sequencers used four different reactions to determine the placement of each of DNA's four bases - known as A, C, T & G - in the sequence.

  • ID: 15567
  • Source: DNAi

15159. Sequencing mitochondrial DNA, Frederick Sanger

Frederick Sanger talks about the results from sequencing human mitochondrial DNA.

  • ID: 15159
  • Source: DNAi

15922. Early DNA sequencing

Two sequencing techniques were developed independently in the 1970s. The method developed by Fred Sanger used chemically altered "dideoxy" bases to terminate newly synthesized DNA fragments at specific bases (either A, C, T, or G). These fragments are th

  • ID: 15922
  • Source: DNAi

15161. Computers and sequencing, Frederick Sanger

Frederick Sanger describes the use of computers in sequencing.

  • ID: 15161
  • Source: DNAi