Gene sequencing is the technique that determines the order of nucleotide bases in DNA. It allows researchers to read genetic information and understand genes. The first genome sequenced was a bacteriophage in 1977. Major advances include sequencing the human genome in 2001. Current technologies like Illumina and Ion Torrent can generate billions of reads faster and cheaper than Sanger sequencing. Gene sequencing has applications in medicine, forensics, agriculture, and more. It is an important tool for understanding genomes and their relationship to traits and disease.