genomic sequencing
Americannoun
Closer Look
The technique that allows researchers to read and decipher the genetic information found in the DNA of anything from bacteria to plants to animals is called genomic sequencing. Once a tedious, painstaking process, today, thanks to new techniques and the advent of powerful computers, it has been sped up a hundredfold. Sequencing involves determining the order of bases, the nucleotide subunits (adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine, referred to by the letters A, G, C and T) found in DNA. (Humans have about 3 billion base pairs.) Three nucleotides in a row specify one kind of amino acid, and a gene is defined by a long string of these triplets. There are various techniques to read the sequence of these “letters” in genes and genomes. So-called shotgun sequencing was used to help decode the human genome. Using this method, the DNA to be sequenced is first broken apart with enzymes, since gene-sequencing machines can only handle small stretches of DNA at a time. Once these random fragments are sequenced, powerful supercomputers compare overlapping sections and recreate the original, long strand. By decoding genomes and sequencing genes, researchers are beginning to understand how those strings of letters work together to create a living organism.
Example Sentences
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The startup, Pilgrim, has built a 50-pound tripod-mounted hardware device called Argus that is packed with sensors that combines air sampling and genomic sequencing to detect biological threats, like Ebola or anthrax.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Twenty-four hours after Virun died, the Pasteur lab uploaded genomic sequencing of the virus that had killed him to databases accessible to scientists worldwide.
From Seattle Times ● May 26, 2024
“But the authors have done a spectacular job of using state of the art tools, combining genomic sequencing, the fossil record, and estimates of flowering plant biodiversity, in a single framework.”
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 23, 2024
Revolutionary advancements in underwater imaging, robotics, and genomic sequencing have reshaped marine exploration, the study reads.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 17, 2024
However, estate agent Avison Young said the facility provided an opportunity for businesses to "fill supply gaps" in the life sciences sector, in areas such as precision medicine, diagnostic testing or genomic sequencing.
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2023
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