You may have heard of the term gene sequencing and are wondering what it is all about. While great strides have been made in this area of biology, many people can only just relate to what DNA is all about. Well, sequencing is a procedure through which the base nucleotides of an organism’s DNA are individually singled out. In simpler terms, it is a process through which one can learn the full DNA sequence of an organism. In this, specialists seek to identify only specific areas of concern. There are different approaches to sequencing, with the most common being the creation of the genome map in the BAC method, and splicing together the multiple minute fragments of the genome to get one clear picture in the shotgun sequencing method.
Sequencing was developed soon after scientists discovered and understood DNA and RNA and their roles in the body. Sequencing basically helps in the understanding of the genome. It was first successfully conducted on the DNA and later adapted on RNA. Technologies and equipment have therefore been developed and which can extract DNA from cells in body components such as blood, skin and hair, among others.
Since the advent of gene sequencing scientists have been able to make great strides in the discovery of particular genes which are responsible for different genetic aspects such as brown hair and congenital heart. Scientists can now be able to point at the specific nucleotides responsible for specific genetic variations across a number of people. In this they may be also be able to point out the specific factors which influence trait variations.
Gene sequencing has been very helpful to medical researchers who are now better placed to identify genetic abnormalities. The current view is that in the not so distant future sequencing will be useful in the development of cures to address specific conditions in both humans and animals. Currently, sequencing is used to test samples from persons who are concerned about passing down hereditary conditions to their children and also in checking for genetic conditions in fetuses. With sequencing, medical scientists believe they can be able to put up a genetic clock which will help in identifying when specific traits first emerged.
Gene sequencing is also helpful for law agencies whereby criminologists are now better placed to provide more accurate findings in their investigations. Sequencing helps sleuths work with common markers to compare human samples in crime scenes against known DNA, and which can help them identify whether a particular person was present or not at a crime scene.
