Analysing and Manipulating DNA

Question 1

What is a dideoxyribonucleotide?

Answer 1

A nucleotide with no OH group at the 3’ group.

Question 2

What is the Sanger dideoxy chain termination method used for and how?

Answer 2

Used for DNA sequencing. A ssDNA (template) strandis used to synthesise the complementary strand using DNA polymerase. If a ddNTP is incorporated, the chain is terminated. This is repeated and a mixture of DNA strand of different lengths is generated. Four reactions for each nucleotide.