Biology, Computing, and the History of Molecular Sequencing

Introduction: An Historical Approach to Sequencing PART I: EMERGENCE: FREDERICK SANGER'S PIONEERING TECHNIQUES (1943-1977) The Sequence of Insulin and the Configuration of a New Biochemical Form of Work (1943-1962) From Chemical Degradation to Biological Replication (1962-1977) PART II: MECHANISATION – 1: COMPUTING AND THE AUTOMATION OF SEQUENCE RECONSTRUCTION (1962-1987) Sequencing Software and the Shift in the Practice of Computation Sequence Databases and the Emergence of 'Information Engineers' PART III: MECHANISATION – 2: THE SEQUENCER AND THE AUTOMATION OF SEQUENCE CONSTRUCTION (1980-2000) A New Approach to Sequencing at Caltech The Commercialisation of the DNA Sequencer Conclusions: A Long History of Practices Appendix 1: Oral Histories Appendix 2: Archival Sources Notes Bibliography