What is the primary advantage of labeling ddNTPs in Sanger Sequencing?

In Sanger Sequencing, labeling ddNTPs (dideoxynucleotide triphosphates) provides a key advantage by allowing sequencing to be conducted in a single reaction rather than requiring separate reactions for each base. The incorporation of fluorescently labeled ddNTPs into the growing DNA strand results in distinct bands that can be resolved and detected after electrophoresis. This means that all four bases (A, T, C, G) can be sequenced simultaneously, simplifying the workflow and increasing efficiency. This simultaneous detection is crucial for speeding up the sequencing process, reducing the time and resources needed compared to traditional methods that required separate reactions for each nucleotide type. Therefore, using labeled ddNTPs directly contributes to the ability to perform Sanger Sequencing in a more streamlined and consolidated manner.