PacBio's SMRT technology involves the use of specialized sequencing instruments that monitor DNA synthesis in real-time. DNA polymerase is used to incorporate fluorescently labeled nucleotides into a growing DNA strand. Each incorporation event emits a unique fluorescence signal, which is detected and recorded, allowing for the reconstruction of the DNA sequence. The ability to sequence long reads, often exceeding 10,000 base pairs, distinguishes PacBio from other sequencing technologies like Illumina.
