What is the purpose of shotgun sequencing?

Shotgun sequencing is primarily used to break long DNA strands into smaller, random fragments. This process allows for the sequencing of these smaller pieces, which can then be assembled back into a complete sequence using computational methods. By obtaining sequences from randomly generated fragments, researchers can efficiently decode large and complex genomes, making it a crucial technique in genomics and molecular biology.

The ability to handle long DNA sequences in this manner is key to mapping genomes quickly and effectively. Once the fragments are sequenced, sophisticated algorithms can align and assemble them to form a comprehensive picture of the entire genome. This method has been instrumental in many high-throughput sequencing projects, including the Human Genome Project.