Sanger DNA Sequencing Determines the Nucleotide Sequence Because

Question

Sanger DNA sequencing determines the nucleotide sequence because:
A)dideoxy nucleotides are incorporated into a growing DNA strand.
B)dideoxy nucleotides terminate the growing DNA strand.
C)PPi is incorporated into the growing DNA strand.
D)PPi is released from the growing DNA strand.
E)None of the answer options are correct.

Accepted Answer

Sanger DNA sequencing uses dideoxy nucleotides that lack a 3'-hydroxyl group which is required for the formation of the phosphodiester bond between the adjacent nucleotides. Therefore, when a dideoxy nucleotide is incorporated into the growing DNA strand, it terminates the strand elongation. This results in a series of truncated products that differ in length by one nucleotide, which can be separated and analyzed to determine the nucleotide sequence.