Maxam and Gilbert

hypothetical sequence with cleavage points indicated

the

the sequence of the DNA fragment can be indentified but using the gel electrophoresis if the same sized fragment appears in C only and T and C or G only and A and G you can assume that the base modified here is a C or a G whereas if a specifically sized fragment appears in with T and C or A and G you can assume that the base there was either a T or an A So by reading through the electrophoresis we can see which base is in each position along the sequence.

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