Modular flow cells and methods of sequencing

1. A method of incorporating labeled nucleotides into nucleic acid, comprising:

a) providing

i) a modular flow cell comprising a plurality of modules, wherein said modules are moveable and removable inserts, each module comprising biomolecules bound to a surface of a lane or fluidic channel, said plurality of modules sharing an input and output port, wherein each module comprises a fluidic channel and the fluidic channel of one module is blocked so that no solutions enter said blocked fluidic channel,

ii) a first solution comprising polymerase and a plurality of nucleotide analogues wherein at least one nucleotide analogue is labeled with a unique label and contains a removable chemical moiety capping the 3′-OH group, and

iii) a second solution comprising a cleaving agent;

b) introducing said first solution into at least one module of said plurality of modules under conditions wherein a first nucleotide analogue is incorporated by said polymerase;

c) detecting the label of the incorporated nucleotide analogue; and

d) introducing said second solution into said at least one module under conditions such that the chemical moiety of the incorporated nucleotide analogue capping the 3′-OH group is removed by said cleaving agent.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic channel of said one module is blocked with a plug.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said biomolecules comprise primers for sequencing.

4. A method of incorporating labeled nucleotides into nucleic acid, comprising:

a) providing

i) a modular flow cell comprising a plurality of modules, wherein said modules are moveable and removable inserts, each module comprising biomolecules bound to a surface of a fluidic channel, each fluidic channel having a separate input and output port, wherein the fluidic channel of one module is blocked so that no solutions enter said blocked fluidic channel,

ii) a first solution comprising polymerase and a plurality of nucleotide analogues wherein at least one nucleotide analogue is labeled with a unique label and contains a removable chemical moiety capping the 3′-OH group, and

iii) a second solution comprising a cleaving agent;

b) introducing said first solution into at least one module of said plurality of modules under conditions wherein a first nucleotide analogue is incorporated by said polymerase;

c) detecting the label of the incorporated nucleotide analogue; and

d) introducing said second solution into said at least one module under conditions such that the chemical moiety of the incorporated nucleotide analogue capping the 3′-OH group is removed by said cleaving agent.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluidic channel of said one module is blocked with a plug.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said biomolecules comprise primers.

7. A method of incorporating labeled nucleotides into nucleic acid, comprising:

a) providing

i) a modular flow cell comprising four modules, wherein said modules are moveable and removable inserts, at least one of which comprise biomolecules bound to a surface of a fluidic channel, wherein one module comprises no biomolecules in the fluidic channel, and no sequencing takes place in that channel;

ii) a first solution comprising polymerase and a plurality of nucleotide analogues wherein each nucleotide analogue is labeled with a unique label and contains a removable chemical moiety capping the 3′-OH group, and

iii) a second solution comprising a cleaving agent;

b) introducing said first solution into said four modules under conditions wherein a first nucleotide analogue is incorporated by said polymerase in at least one of said four modules;

c) detecting the label of the incorporated nucleotide analogue; and

d) introducing said second solution into said at least one module under conditions such that the chemical moiety of the incorporated nucleotide analogue capping the 3′-OH group is removed by said cleaving agent.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said biomolecules comprise primers for sequencing.