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Sequencing in real time

Nature Biotechnology volume 27, pages 150–151 (2009)Cite this article

DNA synthesis by single polymerase molecules has been visualized at the speed of catalysis, heralding a new sequencing technology of unparalleled throughput.

DNA sequencing methods generally work by halting the process of copying the template strand in one way or another, using dideoxynucleotides (in Sanger sequencing), reversible terminators or natural nucleotides1. Now, a report by Eid et al.2 in Science shows that sequence information can be obtained by continuous monitoring of DNA synthesis itself. This strikingly different approach, which records the incorporation of fluorescently labeled nucleotides into single primer strands in real time, promises to increase the speed and read-length of DNA sequencing and to open new avenues in basic research on DNA polymerases and nucleotide analogs.

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Figure 1: Real-time single-molecule sequencing.

Kim Caesar

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Michael L. Metzker is at the Human Genome Sequencing Center and the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza N1409, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. mmetzker@bcm.edu,

    Michael L Metzker

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  1. Michael L Metzker
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Metzker, M. Sequencing in real time. Nat Biotechnol 27, 150–151 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0209-150

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0209-150

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