Final answer:
The entire genome is assembled using computer programs that identify and align overlapping DNA sequences obtained from sequencing reactions. This alignment results in longer continuous sequences called contigs, reconstructing the organism's entire genome.
Step-by-step explanation:
After completing the sequencing reactions, the entire genome from an organism is assembled using computer programs to automate finding sequence overlaps. The DNA is cut into fragments, sequenced using the chain termination method, stained with fluorescent dye, and then computer programs analyze these fragments to see where their sequences overlap. Once overlapping sequences are identified, they can be aligned and merged to form longer sequences known as contigs, effectively reforming the entire genome.
To simplify, imagine you're trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle where each piece represents a segment of DNA. Computer programs act as puzzle-solving assistants, matching up the pieces at their overlapping regions to construct the full picture, which represents the organism's entire genome. This process has been made more efficient with the advent of automated sequencing techniques such as next generation sequencing, which generates vast amounts of short sequence fragments rapidly, further speeding up the genome assembly process.