Specifically, the project utilized a method called Sanger sequencing which was the dominant method at the time. This method involves:
1. Fragmentation: DNA is broken into smaller pieces.
2. Replication: Each fragment is copied many times, but the copying process is halted at random points by incorporating special "dideoxy" nucleotides that lack a hydroxyl group.
3. Separation: The fragments are separated by size using gel electrophoresis.
4. Detection: The sequence of nucleotides in each fragment is determined by the order in which the dideoxy nucleotides are incorporated.
While Sanger sequencing was the primary method used in the Human Genome Project, newer sequencing technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS) have become more prevalent since then. These methods allow for much faster and more efficient sequencing of DNA, leading to advances in personalized medicine, disease research, and genetic analysis.
