Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

2010-11-02T13:20:37Z

090016554:

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]]

The most important part of the PCR reaction is the initial design of the primer. This primer is normally between 18 to 20 base pairs in length and must be completely complimentary to the DNA at the start of the region you are interested in amplyfing. Included in the experiment must be both the forward and reverse primers. <br>

PCR is carried out in a thermal cycler and the enzyme '[[Taq Polymerase|Taq Polymerase]]' is used as it is [[Thermostable|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|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>

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Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)