DNA sequencing is the process of determining the nucleic acid sequence – the order of nucleotides in DNA. It includes any method or technology that is used to determine the order of the four bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. The advent of rapid DNA sequencing methods has greatly accelerated biological and medical research and discovery.
The first methods for DNA sequencing were developed in the 1970s by Frederick Sanger and Walter Gilbert. However, these methods were slow and expensive. In the 1990s, the development of automated DNA sequencers led to a surge of interest in the technology, and since then, it has been developing rapidly. The Human Genome Project, which was completed in 2003, was a major milestone in the history of DNA sequencing.
DNA sequencing has a wide range of applications, from basic research to personalized medicine. The technology is also being used to study evolution, forensics, and archaeology. The cost of DNA sequencing has fallen dramatically in recent years, and it is now possible to sequence a human genome for less than $1,000.