Hi
In molecular genetics many types of DNA sequencing involve a DNA synthesis reaction in which labeled nucleotides are incorporated. Some of these methods also use some form of gel electrophoresis, but others are automated methods that do not use gel electrophoresis. When employed in DNA sequencing, what is the purpose of gel electrophoresis? Why is it not needed in some DNA sequencing methods?
Best wishes
Amin
Good greetings,
1st you need gel electrophoresis to find the requested band of the DNA and isolate it for further purification.
2nd you need gel electrophoresis for increasing the copies of the targeted piece
Hope that answer something!
Best regards
Gel electrophoresis, by itself, does not increase the target copy number. Gel electrophoresis separates nucleic acid molecules based on their size (small molecules migrate through the gel faster than large ones). It is possible to produce a ladder of the synthesized molecules that only differ by a single additional base, and this is how the sequence is 'read'. Gel electrophoresis is not needed in several 'next gen' sequencing approaches, because there is a signal recorded as each base is incorporated during DNA synthesis.
Sorry I forgot to say increasing the copies is by the thermocycler
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