Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): Difference between revisions
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PCR has three main stages: | PCR has three main stages: | ||
1. Heat DNA to | 1. Heat DNA to 95°C to melt the strands | ||
2. Cool to 50 - | 2. Cool to 50 - 65°C to allow primers to anneal | ||
3. Heat to | 3. Heat to 72°C to allow [[Elongation|elongation]] | ||
<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. | |||
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> | PCR can be done using water baths at varying temperatures.<ref>http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1993/mullis-lecture.html</ref> | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 11:23, 2 November 2010
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a technique used for the amplification and identification of DNA or RNA. Also see 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
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.[1]