DNAsekvenssien

DNAsekvenssien, or DNA sequences, are the precise order of nucleotides—adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G)—in a DNA molecule. The sequence contains the information necessary to produce RNA and proteins and to regulate biological processes. In double-stranded DNA, the two strands run in opposite directions and are complementary, so one strand's sequence determines the other.

Sequencing refers to determining this order. Modern techniques generate reads that are assembled into a reference sequence. Information is stored using standard formats such as FASTA (sequence) and FASTQ (sequence with quality scores). Genome length ranges from thousands to billions of bases depending on the organism.

Common sequencing methods: Sanger sequencing (older, accurate for short regions); next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms such as Illumina, and third-generation platforms like PacBio and Oxford Nanopore that produce longer reads. Data analysis includes alignment to reference genomes, de novo assembly, and variant calling.

Applications: decoding genetics in research, medicine, agriculture, forensics; guiding diagnosis, therapy, and veterinary science; studying evolution. Public databases such as GenBank, ENA, and DDBJ store DNA sequences for access by researchers.

Ethical considerations: DNA sequences may reveal sensitive information; access, privacy, and consent guidelines guide data sharing and use.