Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

2010-11-02T10:46:24Z

081077447:

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a technique used for the [[Amplification|amplification]] and identification of [[DNA|DNA]] or [[RNA|RNA]]. Also see [[MRNA|mRNA]]

PCR has three main stages:

1. Heat DNA to 95°c to melt the strands

2. Cool to 50 - 65°c to allow primers to anneal

3. Heat to 72°c to allow [[Elongation|elongation]]

PCR is carried out in a thermal cycler and the enzyme 'Taq Polymerase' is used as it is thermostable, therefore is not denatured at the high temperatures.

The technique was developed by Kary Mulis in 1983 for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993.

PCR can be done using water baths at varying temperatures.<ref>http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1993/mullis-lecture.html</ref>

<references />

The School of Biomedical Sciences Wiki - User contributions [en]

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)