An introduction to nanopore sequencing
Oxford Nanopore Technologies has developed nanopore-based DNA and RNA sequencing technology designed to provide on-demand biological information, to any person, in any environment.
Protein nanopores are tiny holes, that in nature form gateways across membranes. In our technology, protein nanopores are embedded into a synthetic membrane bathed in an electrophysiological solution and an ionic current is passed through the nanopores.
As molecules such as DNA or RNA move through the nanopores, they cause disruption in the current. This signal can be analysed in real-time to determine the sequence of bases in the strands of DNA or RNA passing through the pore.