What is pyrosequencing primarily used for?

Pyrosequencing is primarily utilized for DNA sequencing, which involves determining the exact sequence of nucleotides in a DNA molecule. This technique is favored for its ability to provide high-throughput sequencing data with real-time processing and is particularly valuable in applications like genomics and metagenomics.

During pyrosequencing, DNA polymerase synthesizes a complementary strand of DNA, and the incorporation of nucleotides is detected through a series of enzymatic reactions that produce light. The intensity of the emitted light correlates with the number of nucleotides added, allowing for precise sequencing of the DNA.

In contrast, the other options refer to processes that do not directly involve determining the nucleotide sequence. DNA replication (the first option) refers to the process where a double-stranded DNA molecule is copied to produce two identical strands, which is distinct from sequencing. DNA modification (the second option) involves altering the DNA structure through processes such as methylation or acetylation, which affects gene expression but does not involve determining the sequence of the nucleotides themselves. RNA translation (the fourth option) is the process where messenger RNA (mRNA) is decoded by ribosomes to synthesize proteins, and while essential to gene expression, it is irrelevant