Here's an example of what's due today

DNA sequencing basics

Mon, Sep 14, 2026 · Week 4 · Genetics of Disease (Medical Interventions)

Today's goal: Explain how DNA sequencing reads the order of bases and why that sequence can act as a fingerprint for an organism.

Learn first

What a finished product looks like

This is a model of the work you should turn in today. Use it to check your own: match the structure and the level of detail, do not copy it. Your data and wording should be your own.

DNA sequencing vocab entry

Completes: A notebook entry listing the four DNA bases and their pairing rules, a two-sentence summary of what sequencing measures, and one question to carry into the BLAST lab.

Four DNA bases and pairing rules:

Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T).
Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G).

What sequencing measures (two sentences): DNA sequencing reads the exact order of the A, T, C, and G bases along a strand. Because each species has a different base order, that order acts like a fingerprint that can identify the organism.

Why a unique sequence can identify an unknown pathogen: no two species have the identical full sequence, so matching an unknown read to a database entry points to the species it came from.

My question for the BLAST lab: how close does a match have to be before we can trust that two sequences are from the same species?

Also due today: Keep in notebook; bring to the computer lab Wednesday.

Check yourself

WebXam problem for today's skill

One exam-style question that uses exactly what you practiced today. Try it before you reveal the answer, then read why each choice is right or wrong.

WebXam-style domain: Bio-Molecular TechnologySelf-check skill: Recognizing a valid nucleotide read and DNA base pairing

A student claims a printout is a valid raw DNA sequencing read. Which sequence could be a genuine nucleotide read?

Tap an answer to see the full explanation. Nothing is recorded or graded.

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