DNA sequencing has a remarkable history, in terms of inception and evolution of the technologies themselves, as well as the breadth and scope of problems to which they have been applied. This Nature collection celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Sanger method for DNA sequencing, the most widely used sequencing method, pioneered by Fred Sanger and his team in 1977.

In a Review and accompanying Milestones, Jay Shendure, Shankar Balasubramanian, George M. Church, Walter Gilbert, Jane Rogers, Jeffery A. Schloss and Robert H. Waterston review the evolution of sequencing technologies over the past 40 years. The Milestones list key advances in methods development, computational analyses and applications of genome sequencing. We also highlight a selection of key publications from these Milestones that appeared in Nature journals in the Methods, Genomes and Applications sections.

Accompanying news and commentary in Nature bring further perspectives on this 40 year anniversary of Sanger sequencing. In a Commentary Eric Green, Eddy Rubin and Maynard Olson share perspectives on the future of sequencing over the next 40 years. A Technology Feature explores recent progress in one emerging method, nanopore sequencing, showing potential to upend the DNA sequencing market. A News Feature provides context on genomics applications in direct to consumer genetic testing.

- Orli Bahcall, Senior Editor, Nature

LISTEN: Nature Podcast with NHGRI Director Eric Green on how DNA sequencing has transformed biology, and what might still be to come.