DNA Sequencing - 3D

Cut the DNA into smaller pieces and insert them into plasmid DNA, then transfer into bacterial cells to produce multiple copies as the cells multiply.

Extract the DNA from bacterial cells and transfer it to a plate. Add a mixture of free DNA bases, DNA polymerase enzyme, DNA primers, and fluorescently-labeled terminator bases.

Heat DNA to 96°C to separate strands, cool to 50°C for primer binding, then raise to 60°C for DNA polymerase to synthesize new strands until a terminator base stops extension. Repeat this cycle multiple times.

Apply electrical charge to move negatively-charged DNA fragments through a porous gel in a capillary tube. Shorter fragments move faster and separate from longer fragments by size.

As DNA fragments exit the capillary, a laser illuminates the fluorescently-labeled terminator bases. A camera detects the color (A=green, C=blue, G=yellow, T=red) and records each base in order.

The sequencing machine records the colored terminator bases as a series of colored blocks representing each DNA fragment. Convert the color sequence into letters to determine the final DNA sequence.