DNA Sequencing
The DNA sequencing process
makes it possible for researchers to discover the amino-acid sequence in
a substance, such as the stonefly mitochondria DNA shown in the cropped
close-up of the computer-screen. To reach that point, the target material
arrives from the researcher in a single container or multi-welled plate.
It is transferred into eight-strip tubes and combined with fluorescent
chemistry (photo number 1), then is placed in the thermal cycler
(photo 2), where each of the four base chemicals, AGCT, receives a
fluorescent tag. The tagged material is then moved to the DNA sequencer
(photo 3).
The sequencer produces the images that allow researchers
to see the nucleic acid sequence. On the computer screen, one of
the lanes on the gel image is translated into a chromatogram showing each base chemical in a different color and
intensity. In the cropped close-up of a computer-screen (below), the sequence
of the AGCT "alphabet" is provided. The single line of letters in black
is information about the protein created by the amino acid sequence.
As a part of the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Functional Genomics Core Lab, the the DNA sequencing facility is being enhanced.
Photo #1
Photo #2
Photo #3