Sanger, Nicklen and Coulson: chain-termination DNA sequencing

What changed

Read DNA sequences using nucleotide analogues that terminate DNA-polymerase extension at specific bases, with a bacteriophage sequence demonstration.

Scientific scope

The 1977 chain-termination DNA sequencing method of Sanger, Nicklen and Coulson.

Evidence

Original sources and institutional historical accounts support the stated contribution. The reading boundary is recorded at each source; this assessment is not an independent scientific verification.

Contributors

• Frederick Sanger · SCIENCE: Named source contributor to this scoped work; individual labor shares are not measured.
• S. Nicklen · SCIENCE: Named source contributor to this scoped work; individual labor shares are not measured.
• Alan R. Coulson · SCIENCE: Named source contributor to this scoped work; individual labor shares are not measured.

• Sanger, Nicklen and Coulson, DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors, PNAS 74, 5463–5467 (1977)

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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