DNA Sequencing by Synthesis

Abstract

DNA sequencing has become more prevalent in the past couple years since it’s discovery in the 1970’s. The potential to use information on a person’s genome to reveal an individual’s tendency for diseases has become significant and can lead to personalized and precise medicine. Therefore, people have been trying to discover new DNA sequencing methods that can be fast, accurate, and cost-effective. Nanopore DNA sequencing by synthesis may be the solution to this problem. Sequencing by synthesis uses polymer tags that are identifiable, attach to nucleotides, and enter a nanopore during enzyme-catalyzed DNA synthesis. Scientists have already proved this method works well, but are trying to further develop this approach by using nucleotides tagged with oligonucleotide based polymers and a DNA polymerase ternary complex attached to a nanopore. This new approach to sequencing by synthesis showed very promising results but still needs to be perfected if it is to one day be used in the biological and medical fields.