Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a technique used for the amplification and identification of DNA or RNA.

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

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.