Abstract: The present invention provides a method of sequencing a nucleic acid, comprising either sequentially removing bases from the sequence of the nucleic acid a predetermined number at a time, with the product remaining from each step of predetermined base removal being ligated to a labeled adapter specific for said bases and including oligonucleotide sequence, or hybridizing a primer to the nucleic acid to be sequenced and sequentially extending said primer a predetermined number of bases at a time, said added base(s) being complementary to base(s) in the nucleic acid being sequenced, and each of said base addition steps being achieved by the use of a labeled adaptor specific for said bases and including oligonucleotide sequence containing said predetermined base(s); in either case, the label of said labeled adaptor being specific for its respective predetermined base(s).

Abstract: A process for the categorization of nucleic acid sequences in which said sequences are linked to a population of adaptor molecules each exhibiting specificity for linking to a sequence including a predetermined nucleotide base, categorization of the resulting linked sequences being based upon selection for the base.